The Iola register., 1901-11-08
KILLED WHILE OUT HUNTING
Alton Smith Shot Friday Afr.
ternOOn and Died Few Min
utes After Reaching Town.

Alton Smith, the fifteen year old
son of Mr.. and Mrs G. j. Smith, who
live on east Madison avenue in East
lola, just south of the Missouri Pacific
tracks, was shot while out hunting
Friday afternoon with three other
boys. He was brought to town and
died few minutes after he reached
the DOCTORS Office and before either of
his parents could see'him.
Young Smith, Fred McClelland,
Theodore White and Frank Williams
went hunting Friday afternoon and
the accident happened while they were
about II mile and half north of their
home in east lola. Finding little
game to shoot at the boys began
throwing things into the air and TAX
ing turns shooting at the missiles. Re-
ports differ as to how the shooting oc-
Cured. The first report was that Nc
Clelland shot Smith while trying to
hit one of the handkerchiefs thrown up
by him. The boys themselves know
little about how the shooting occurred
as it happened in moment. 1t is
most generally believed that the Nc
Clelland boy had che gun aud had
snapped it trying to shoot The Smith
boy came up behind him and attempted
to wrest it from him. claiming il was
his turn To shoot. la the scufliAg the
gun was turned around. the muzzle
resting against young Smiths stom-
ach and the hammers caught on the
other boys clothing. One barrel was
discharged, the load tearing its way
through the unfortunate boys bowels.
He dropped to the ground and the
badly frightened boys hardly knew
whatlto do. McCielland and Williams
finally set off at run for home to get
help. They found the boys father at
home and informed him Of what had
happened He and Charlie McNaugh
too secured the delivery wagon from
Myers grocery and hurried to the
place TO which the boys directed them.
When they arrived there no boys were
10 be found and the distracted father
was driven frantic by the fact.
II seems that after the boys left to
summon aid, "a farmer came along in
wagon, The White boy hailed him
and when it was suggested to take the
wounded boy to town young White
agreed, The body was lifted into the
wagon and all haste made to DR..
Cox's Office. He was absent. Then
they drove to DR.. Fulton's. He was
absent. Then to DR.. Wya,C's office in
the Northrup Bank building. The
boy was carried to the Office ald the
doctor quickly examined him, dscov
ering that there was absolutely no
hope of his recovery. Death came
about five minutes after the body
reached the doctor's office, and short
time later it was removed to the MARI
undertaking rooms.
In the meantime frantic prepara-
tions had been going on at the Smith
home in east lola. DIR. Coffman had
been telephoned for and hurried o the
house Bandages and warm water
we're prepared, q bed made ready and
the distracted mother tried to restrain
her impatience to see her boy. After
what seemed an age Mr.. Smith and
lis assistants drove back to the house
and inquired If the boy had arrived.
I l., ~. tna III
sickness of the pareuts at such try
ing time, especially as they knew from
DR.. Coffman's preparatory warning
that the boy probably could not live
very long. A REGISTER representative
Immediately began telephoning to the
doctors in town and finally got the
first word from Mrs. Folton that the
boy had been there.
Mr. Smith hurried at once to town,
but reached his boys side too late to
see him alive. Mrs. Smith was too
prostrated to attempt the hurried trip
and the friends were kept busy looking
after her. Mr.. Smith gave directions
for the care of the body and returned
with the inevitable news to his family.
The doctors all agree that from the
nature of the wound the boy had not
The slightest chance OF recovery and
it is extremely unfortunate that the
family could notsee him alive, p' they
codld have done had he been taien
home. Ofcourse tho man who orou sht
the boy to town believed he was act
ing for the best
Mr.. Smith, the father of the boy, is
a metal drawer at Nicholson's smelter
and has family OF wife, daughter
nearly grown, and several smaller
children. He has u new house nearly
finished in east lola and expects to
move into it soon. The family has
the deepest coincidence of the entire
community in their great affiiction.