Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03
Meade proposed to Hardie that

-uE recent accidental killing IN New
Jersey of Conrad Steelman and John
i yost and the serious wounding OF
two other hunters by the same LOAD Oh
buckshot brought the total OF fatahlies
from hunting for the year OF l9ll up 10
fiftv-nine, according to figures complieo
by DIR. T. S Palmer of the United states
biological survey
The same source shows a total or Ia"
deaths for the year 1910 and a total OIL
10 deaths for the year 1909, while DELL
mite news of but an even hundred deaths
from this source was tailed for l9oo'
which was the first year the bioiosicai
survey undertook to Systematically col
lect data OH the hunting fatalities in the
United States 1t is pointed out, however,
that the figures for the two earlier years
during which actual count OF hunters
deaths was kept, are probably less accu-
rate than the two last ones for at nrst
tho facilities of the survey We're less ade-
ouate than now and means OF Sethhs lhe
news of the deaths were less we'll de-
veoped.
*
Means OF gathering data relating IL
hunting fatalities are as varied as theS
are interesting and difficult 10 peslh
with. hunting fatalitie~are not oeilper-
ately staged for the benefit OF the do
logical survey, and it often is with great
d,tticuIty that the survey gets any accu-
xys of the deaths. News notes in
Tho dailv press are depended upon larseis
90. tho t,rst information of hunting acci-
dents a,t,
corps of workers has ior It's uutS
tho careful perusal of newspapers from
ali over the country especially from the
states where hunting Is common, anu
every note pertaining to hunting acci-
dent of any kind is quickly and THOR
ouehly investigated Letters are sent at
once 10 officials of the county where the
accident occurred or to reliable persons
in the neig hborhood, who Will be IN
formed regarding the accident ana us
final outcome. These results are care
fully watched, in each case, and II the
accident has resulted in death, or
finally results in death, the name or
the person is catalogued. and the CIR
cumstances surrounding the death are
also noted.
In some cases the survey has special
even connected with the government
service but who keep the survey in
formed of deaths in their locality.
The survey finds great difficulty, in
1ldUy IlStduteS, III dctti WITCH
death is really the result of hunting
accident. A man, who presumably had
been hunting, is found dead in the woods.
There are no witnesses, and determining
what properly was the cause of his death
might often be the work of detective.
1t may be added that If there Is any
reasonable doubt as to the exact cause
of death the case is not reckoned by the
survey.
The causes of the fatalities to hunters
q oro6 ho localities in which
they hunt. The major portion, of course
come from the use of firearms The
actual shooting of a hunter, thinking him
TO be deer or other game, is perhaps
the most frequent cause Of death. The
number of fatalities from this cause is
much augmented during foggy or misty
weather. when it is difficult for hunters
to determine what objects are. the or
binary hunting clothes still furthering
the illusion by their apparent blending
with the background Of the woods.
.k*
Death reaps a great harvest from the
carelessness in the handling of firearms.
Pulling the gun out of a boat muzzle
first careleSSnesS in going through
brakes and brush and in cleaning and
loading, all are fruitful causes of fatal
accidents. Didn't know it was loaded
accidents bring sadness to many hunt
ing party, and the too free use of al
coholic liquors renders accidents more
liable.
Many duck hunters drown each year
by mishaps in boats and in treacherous
mud and quicksand. Some hunters die
from cold and exposure, many lose their
way in forests or mountains, while
few are destroyed by ferocious game.
Many cases of wounded animals, such
as moose and elk, turning OH their pursu-
ers with fatal endings are recorded, and
the sharp hoofs of deer and antelope have
taken their toll of human life.
1t is peculiar fact that the accidents
from smalI-caliber rifles in the hands of
boy hunters have wrought
almost as much havoc have larger
rifles in the big game countries. The
District has one death the rolls Of
those killed while hunting, that Of nine
year-old John kendrick, who was killed
in the Eastern branch of the Anacostia
river October 49, 1910 With several boy
he had been hunting reed
birds. when an accidental shot from u
small rifle ended his life. 1t is note
worthy that New Jersey, where hunting
deer is allowed on but Wednesday of
each week in November, has prohibited
tho use CT hish-caliber rifles, tho al