The Ward County independent., 1910-07-14
CHARLES 4. SEATON Y
MEETS HORRIBLE Fate
PROMINENT FARMER WHILE At.
TEMPTING TO KILL COYOTES IS
FATALLY WOUNDED, DYING
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
MASONIC FUNERAL ON WEDNESDAY

MASONIC FUNERAL On WEDNESDAY,
c. H. Seaton, one of the most prom
inent FARMERS in Ward county, died at
his home two and half miles south
west of Minot Saturday morning, at
ten O'Clock as the result of the acci-
dental discharge of rifle with which
he attempted to shoot coyote four
hours earlier. .,E
The tragedy has cast a gloom over
the thousands of friends of the de-
ceased, in this part of the state.
Mr.. Seaton had arisen about five
o'clock that morning, and intended
going out into the field to catch some
horses, with which to rake up The
wheat which his two hired men were
going to cut down that day. He built
the kitchen fire and informed his wife
that ne had seen coyote prowling
around in the wheat field north Of the
house and asked her to hand him his
$3.50 Winchester. He started for
the field, just a short distance north
Of the house, Mrs .seaton remaining
in the door way, and she heard him
fire one shot at the coyote. She ask
ed him if he had killed the animal,
and he answered in the negative and
ran hurriedly across potato patch
and through the little grove north Of
the house. A few moments later,
Mrs. Seaton heard q second shot
and having premonition that some
thing mad happened to her husband.
hurried to the grove, where she found
him fatally wounded. She hurried
back to the house and called the hired
man and Mr.! seaton's brother, who
carried the injured man into the house
Physicians were called by telephone
and went to the farm with nurse,
and did everything possible to save
the man, but he died later without re-
gaining consciousness. The bullet
had entered the head just above the
left eye and plowed furrow thru the
brain, taking an upward and back
ward course, coming out Of the crown
of the head. The physicians neld out
no hopes for his recovery.
The Accident. r.
Mr.. Seaton met his death, tho it was
purely through an accident. The body
was found at spot where the grove
meets the wheat field and the man
lay on his back with the barrel Of
the gun giagonally across his body.
and pointing in the direction of the
left side of his head. Just within
the wheat field, is a spot where the
wheat was trampled down as tho he
had stood there for few moments
watching for another glimpse of the
coyote. The theory is that he backed
into the grove and as he did so, stum-
bled over a limb which lay partially
secreted by the grass, and in irving
to catch his balance the butt of the
rifle struck the ground, causing the
discharge of the weapon with fatal
results. Mr.. Seaton was tall man
and as the limbs were little low at
this place, he must have been in a
crouching position which accounts for
the direction which the bullet took.
The news of the accident Travelled
over the country like wild fle, and dur
ing the day many friends went to the
farm home to lend their assistance,
which however was not needed. as..
The deceased was one OF the most
Intelligent and thrifty farmers and his
success was next to phenomenal. We
we'll remember the time eight years
ago, when he and his brother bought
the Tolgen farm south of Minot. Mr..
Seaton had come here from Ltchfed,
MINI where he had been a telegraph
operator, and invested his savings, not
large sum, in a farm. He bought
his brothers interest later, and this
proved to be the necleus Of one of the
largest and best titled farms In this
part of the state. Mr. Seaton always
believed that what was worth doing
at all was worth doing well, and his
methods were studied by many Of
those with whom he came in contact.
He added quarter after quarter to his