Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-09-16
IS KILLED BY
HIS FRIEND
Jesse Hodges is Taken for a Deer
and Fatally Wounded by Mel
lie Baker.
LIVED TwENTY.FouR HOURS
Il Took Over Nine Hours 10 Get Him
Into camp-Funeral to be Held
Next Friday.

The first fatality of the deer sea.
son in Fergus county occurred Satur.
day morning about S o'clock. when
Jesse Hodges. well known in this city
received a mortal shot from The gun
carried by Nellie Baker.
Hodges. the two Baker boys and
Claude West were all up in the Snowy
mountains at the head OF Cottonwood
canon deer hunting early in the morn
ing. when they caught sight of FIVE
deer. Hodges went up on the noun
tain around them. while the other
boys remained in the canyon. After
a few moments Nellie Baker saw the
bushes within a few yards of him
move and the next istant sighted n
grayish looking object, which he took
for a deer. and instantly fired. A
cry greeted the shot and when he
ran to the spot 1t was to find that he
had SEN a bullet through the body
of Hodges. one of his most intimate
friends. The bullet. which was from
a 5000 rifle and of the soft nose sort
which expands after it strikes a body,
inflicted a terrible wound. entering
the middle of the back just to the left
of the spinal column and coming out
just above the heart and then carry.
ing away a piece of the left arm. West
quickly ran to the saw mill of Jim
Pratt, secured a horse and came for
a doctor. Despite the muddy condi-
ton of the roads the messenger was
in town within two hours after the
shooting occurred.
Other members of the party secur.
ed blankets at the camp. constructed
a rude but comfortable litter and com
menced the slow journey to the camp
two miles distant. IL was necessary
to cut a clean path for the passage OF
the litter. and as the snow covered
the ground TO the depth of several
inches II was 5 O'Clock in the after
noon before they finally reached the
camp. DIR. Long had driven up 10
the camp some time before the party
with the wounded man arrived. He
Immediately made an examination
and rendered every possible surgical
assistance, but the nature of the
wounds made IL impossible for the
doctor to hold out any hopes OF the
mans recovery. Hodges was wholly
conscious and did not suffer any pain
to the time of his death. at 8 O'Clock
Sunday morning. just "a hours after
the accident occurred.
Hodges was about % years of age
and known as a hard working. up
right young man. He worked in Lew.
istown for awhile last winter and won
the esteem of all with whom he came
in contact. About ten months since
he was married to Miss Kate Mahana.
the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Mahana, of neal Cottonwood. He had
acquired a ranch on upper Cotton
wood and was working hard to build
a permanent home for his bride.
The accident was probably due 10
the fact that he was wearing a grey
coat and cap. Through the bushes.
laden with snow, the color closely re-
sembled that of a deer. Baker, who
was so unfortunate as to fire the
shot which killed his friend. suffers
inexpressable sorrow at the terrible
result Of his unintentional act. lie
did not imagine II possible that
Hodges could be so near, and as he
was expecting every moment to see
a deer bounding through the brush.
he. in his excitement. perhaps did not
exercise the precaution which a deer
hunter should The young wife OF the
dead mar is Frustrated owe the Ter.
rible accident and some fears are en-.
tertained over the state OF her health.
Hodges people. who live in Arkan-
sas. were telegraphed the result of
the accident. A brother who lives in
the state OF Washington left Monday
morning for this city and will arrive
tomorrow. The funeral services will
be held from the Presbyterian church
Rev. Henry uickenden officiating,
Interment will not take place until
Friday, it being put off as long as pos
sible in order TO allow some Of his
relatives to reach here.
Hodges carried life insurance in
the sum of 81. 800 with the Mutual
Benefit Life Insurance Co, Of New
ark, n. j.