The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-08-27
BOY ACCIDENTALLY SHOT A.
PARK CITY BROUGHT HERE
FOR OPERATION.
EXPECT RECOVERY
Rifle Bullet Pierces lntestines Six
Times and Comes Out Near the
spine-Youth Shows Great Vitality
NO Complications Are Looked for
by the Physicians.

While little Joe Foster son of Mr..
and Mrs. r. p. Foster, who reside on
a ranch four miles west of Park City,
was playing with his brother in a
field near their home late Sunday af-
ternoon, he was accidentally shot with
a % caliber rifle which he had in his
possession. The bullet entered the
center of the little fellows stomach,
passed through his intestines and
came out in the back near the spine
At the time Of the accident both
boys were three-quarters of a mile
from the house, and with a determina-
tion to reach that place the wounded
boy bravely set out on the long walk.
He was assisted by his crying and
nearly heartbroken brother to great
extent, and in short time medical
aid was summoned from Park City
and DR.. J. H. Fewkes responded.
Upon an examination it was found
that the only chance of saving the
boys life was to get him to Billings as
soon as possible, where he could be
operated upon at the local hospital.
AS there were no trains due for the
next 12 hours, the automobile of T. G.
Pound was pressed into service, and
in this the boy was placed and then
the race against death began. The
injured boy was accompanied by DR..
J. H. Fewkes, his father and mother,
while the auto was driven by Mr..
Pound.
Just before the start was made the
wounds caused by the bullet were
carefully dressed by DR.. Fewkes, and
with the exception of bleeding inter
nally, which was increased to CON
siderable degree by the jolting of the
machine, the patient bore up with re
markable fortitude.
From the ranch home to the main
road slow progress was made by the
occupants of the big machine, owing
to the roughness of the road After
the main road was reached Mr.. Pound
opened up the throttle and the big
machine bounded off into the dark
ness and the race with death was on
Mile after mile was reeled off with
lightning rapidity and the glow OF
small lights along the :oad told of the
passing of numerous farm houses, the
occupants of whom were unaware OF
the terrific nerve strain that the
members Of the party in the swiftly
moving automobile were under.
A short stop was made for the pur
pose of fixing a small break and also
for examining the patient, and then
the machine responded to the frantic
grasp of the driver and moved forward
with speed that would put all Of the
express trains in the country out ol
business.
The news Of the accident had beer
telephoned to Billings and doctors
here were told of the 23-mile race
with death. Preparations were made
for receiving the patient at st. Vim
cents hospital by willing nurses. The
operating room was quickly made
ready to receive the party and the1
ensued long wait for the man.
watchers. Doctors became impatient
as did also the nurses and time hung
heavily for all concerned.
Strong men wondered if life wa!
still intact in the little body an:
many a silent prayer was offered vi
for the party that was hurrying to
wards this city as fast as a 20-hors,
power motor could drive the carriag'
that contained others, equally doubt
full.
The big clock that hangs in tn,
hallway of the hospital licked steadil
on. One o'clock came and went, an
the long hands were pointing to
few minutes past two when the fal
away honk, honk Of the onrushing au
tomobile was heard by the impatien
watchers. The alarm of warning t
other vehicles grew louder and loud
er and as the machine crossed tn
Northern Pacific tracks, short dis
tance west Of the hospital at 81
mile clip, the excitement was intense
In was only moment or two unit
the cross country party arrived a
the door Of the hospital. The aut
was brought to a quick stop an
many hands were extended to carr
the still living form to the operatin
room, where an examination Of th
nature of the wounds was made b
Doctors Clark and Fewkes.
At few minutes past 8 o'clock th
operation was begun. It was foun
that the bullet had passed through th
intestines and had punctured thos