Fergus County Democrat., 1906-11-13
Unfortunate Accident Occurred Near
Natal in the Snowy Mountains
Last Friday Afternoon.
FIN WILSON WOUNDED BY FRIEND
Aueust Meir, a Young RanCher OF
Paradise Valley, Mistook Wilson
for Deer Victim improving

One of the most unfortunate accidents
of the hunting season in Fergus county
occurred near Natal last Friday fore
noon shortly after 10 o'clock when Fin
Wilson, well known young man OF
that vicinity was mistaken for deer
and shot and perhaps fatally wounded
by August Meir, another well known
young rancher Of the Paradise region
Mr.. Wilson was brought to this city
last Sunday evening and is now resting
quietly under careful medical attention
at Schroeders hospital. For the past
two nights the patient has been resting
easily and the outlook for recovery
is very favorable, as his condition is
much improved ait the present writing
Drs. r. L. stokes ana Peasants have
the case in charge.
On the day Of the accident, Meir anG
Wilson, left their respective homes al
1880 in the morning, and started to-
ward the main range of the Snowies
deciding TO take advantage of a light
fall of snow which fell the night be-
fore, and hunt for deer. Both mel1
had rifles, Meir having a 3030. AS is
usual among hunters, as soon as they
nf q
which is a veratible paradise for game
of all kinds, they decided to separate
and take different courses. Wilson was
to swing around a circle to the east,
while Meir went to the west. They
did so, but after a time Wilson struck
fresh deer tracks, and in following
them, inadvertedly started back into
the territory allotted to Meir.
Meir was also fortunate in finding
tracks of deer, which he followed fol
some distance, until they finally lead
into a thicket of dense undergrowtl
and larger trees. While cautiously ap.
preaching the thicket, and when abou
400 feet away, Meir heard the crack
ling Of the brush and upon CLOSE
scrutiny soon saw brown buckskir
colored object moving in the cluster o.
trees a short distance away. Mistakint
this object for a deer, and not knowing
that Wilson had left his intended
course, Meir, who is a crack shot an,
one of the best big game hunters il
the country, raised his gun, and wit
quick steady aim fired at the suppose
deer. The report of the gun was 70
lowed by the startled cry of a mai
and moment later, Meir saw ths
his target had been, not deer, b,
his friend and companion, Finn Wi
son.
For a short time after he We
wounded, Wilson was unconscious, bl
lying in the snow, he soon came I
his senses, and calmly advised Meir wt
was entirely disconnected over the al
fair what to do. Immediately after
ward, Meir went to the ranch Of near
by neighbor, where assistance wa
phonedi for. John C. Pratt, the Nat;
postmaster, soon arrived on the seer
of the accident, and the unfortuna1
man was taken to the Olds hom
where DR. Stokes arrived, three hou1
after the gunshot wound had been il
fiicted, to dress the wound. 1t WI
found that the bullet entered Wilson
BODY in the back and pierced his XII
neys. AT first but little h1pe was he
out by the attending physicians, b
the patient has shown remarkable 70
titude, and tenacity, rallying from II
first effects of the wound, and his r
covery now looks favorable.
Mr.. Wilson is a young man not y
thirty years of age. He Is married al
lives on a ranch in Paradise valle
abuot one mile from the ranch
August Meir, who is also married. w
son came to the basin about a ye
ago. and since then has resided on
ranch In the Snowies. He is a poL
lar young man and his friends he
for speedy recovery.
He and Mr.. Meir We're the very b.
Of friends, and Mr.. Meir is natura
vry much affected by the unfortun;
event. But considering the circu
stances, he is in no wise responsi
for the accident.
This is the second time that a m
has been mistaken and shot for