The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-11

So dense are the clouds OF mystery
with which courtiers are apt to envelop
any shooting accident In cases where
royalty happens to be included among
the nimrods, that there is a very natural
inclination 70 ascribe the misadventure
to the most inustrous of their number
It is ewing 10 this that there has been
a disposition in the daily press, and espe-
cially in the comic pages thereof, as wei
as in the weekly comic journals on this
side OF the Atlantic. TO attribute the
blame for the peppering sustained by
Lord Kiimarnock. while out shooting at
Balmoral last week. to the carelessness
of his host and sovereign, George Y. II
is a pity that no official account was
published, placing the blame for what
turned out 10 be a very trifiing mishap.
where II belonged, even II il affected the
popularity Of the culprit as a gunner. anc
rendered people chary about inviting him
10 their shoOts. For. as the matter
stands now. George V, who is perhaps
not only the best. but also the most
careful sporting shot in his vast dOmin-
ions, will remain. here in America. at any
rate. and among the IGdsses IN England,
under the totally unjustlfed imputation
Of having almost shot out the eye of
young Lord Kilmarnock. who is not only
a member OF his diplomatic service, but
also to a certain extent his kinsman,
counting among his immediate ancestors
King William ".
Accidents such as the one which took
place at Balmorsl Iaot week are far more
frequent than the public imagines. This.
too. In spite Of the extraordinary precau-
tons that are adopted at all shooting
parties where royal persorages or rulers
Of great nations are present. They are
largely due 70 the nature Of battue shoot
ing within a relatively -circumscribed
area. and TO the way which small shot
have Of ricochetting from trees ans
Stones Thus. one OF King Edwards
brothers-in-law. Prince Christian. of
Schleswig- Holstein. had an eye destroyed
while out shooting about fourteen years
ago. in the coverts at Osborne through
the carelessness Of one of the members
Of the party the identity OF whom has
always been the subject OF much gossip
though nothing positive is known about
the matter. the public ascribing It TO the
late Prince Henry. Of Bsttenberg. FOR no
other reason than because he happened
at the time to be the least popular
member Of the reiening house among the
masses
King Carlos OF Portugal. was more
fortunate at the shooting party given at
Marty in his honor by the late President
Faure For. although struck by some
stray shots about his legs and the lower
part Of his back only slight damage was
done. the burly and good-natured mon
arch taking the affair as o vast joke, and
declining to permit II to interfere in any
way with his sport There. too. the iden-
THY OF the offending gunner remained a
mystery, and familiar incertitude prevails
10 this day as to who It really was who
so badly wounded Col. (afterward Gem
Brugere at The first shooting party given
by the .H-fated President Sadi-Carnot.
at Rambouillet, after his election to the
chief magistracy Of the French republic.
President Is Accused.
Brugere who had formed part OF the
military staff OF President Grevy, was
Sisted for removal from the household OF
the Palace Of the Elysee. when he was
so badly wounded, and, although the
gamekeeper. Darrien. took upon himself
the responsibility Of the accident. II was
generally-assumed by the public that the
perpetra.or OF the accident was no less a
parsonage than the President himself
This impression waa Strengthened by the
great distress which this ordinarily 50
impassive. cold, and collected man dis
played about the matter; by his retention
Of Brugere at the Elysee; by his advanc-
ing him TO the chieftaiDcy of his military
household; by his intrusting him with
all sorts OF foreign missions, which re-
suited In his being overwhelmed with for
eign orders of knighehood. and by his Sc