Oxford Democrat., 1910-04-05
Philip c. Bolster Accidentally Killed.
INSTANT DEATH FOLLOWED THE DIS
CHARGE OF A SHOT GUN IN HIS HANDS.


CHARGE OF A SHOT GUN IN HIS HANDS.
South Paris was sadly shocked or
Saturday by the accidental death ol
Philip C. Bolster, son of Mr.. and Mrs
N. Day ton Bolster, Is years Of age, from
the discharge of shot gun.
He was out in the woods with two
boys about his age, William Abbott and
Lafayette Dow. Taking their lunch
with them, the boys left the village
about half-past eleven, and went to the
camp of Z. N. Haskell, about mile and
a half as the road goes south of the
village. Philip had provided himself
with some shells, and before they start
ed borrowed the shot gun belonging to
William Abbott, which he had frequent
ly used before.
The boys ate their lunch in the woods
back of the camp, and then went down
the steep bank to the brook which runs
at its foot. Here William Abbott began
to fish and the other two boys sat down
or lay down by the bank. Philip
had the gun, and was eating cookie
which remained from his lunch.
Just how the accident happened is not
known, as one of the other boys was in
tent upon the fishing, and the other one,
although quite near Philip, was not
looking toward him, but was watching
the other boy fishing. Appearances in-
dictate that he had the gun with the
muzzle toward him, and that by its slip
ping OF moving it in some way, the ham,
mers struck a rock and discharged the
gun. Both barrels were found discharg-
ed, but it is possible, as he had fired the
gun once, that he may have left one
empty shell in it.
The charge struck in the middle of the
lower part of the chest, tearing a large
wound, and burning away the clothing.
Death must have been instanteous, as
only gasp or two gave evidence Of any
remaining life.
The other boys did not at the first
moment realize that the discharge of the
gun was accidental, but after few Sec
onds, realizing that Philip had been
shot, William Abbott ran across the
fields TO the village by way of the rail-
road bridge, and went to the Office of
A. W. Walker & Son, the nearest point
where telephone could be reached, and
told P. NJ. Walker that Philip had been
shot, and then ran back to the scene.
Word was sent out by Mr.. Walker
over the telephone, and men quickly
started for the scene. DR.. Stewart was
the first one to start, and drove as fast
as possible. Mr.. Bolster, who was stay
ing in the house for the day, was soon
off, and others started at once. DR.. |
Liltlefield and DR.. Bradbury, who were
in consultation iu the Square, were
quickly sent on. Coroner William j.
Wheeler was only a little behind the |
others.
Nothing beyond the fact that the boy |
had been shot was known until the |
place was reached. There was nothing |
that could be done, and Coroner Wheel |
er, after a brief examination into the |
decided that it was clear |
ly case of accident, and that no inquest |
was necessary.
Few boys could be taken out of COM
munity whose going would cause such |
universal sorrow. Philip was Is years
old last October, and in his first year in
the high school. He was bright and
quick-witted, full Of life and fond of
athletic sports, sunny dispositioned and
q OiSau, wy
Not only his schoolmates and compan-
ions, but many of the older people, feel
a distinct sense of personal loss.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bolster have one other
son, Morton, senior in Bates College,
aud two daughters, Elsie, wife of Donald
P. Chapman, and Ruth, little older
than Philip.
The funeral is at the house on Pleasant
Street at $50 Monday afternoon, at
tended by Rev. A. T. McWhorter.
Philips class in the Congregational
Sunday School, with their teacher, Mrs.
w. II. SWEET, attend in a body. His
class in the high school, and number
Of other scholars in the schools of the
place, also attend in body. The high |
school and some of the other schools
are suspended for the occasion.