The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-03
URGES U. S. TO ACT
IN CANADIAN KILLING
Representative Smith Says Buff
falO Is Aroused Over BOr-
der Tragedy.
SHOT TO KILL, SAYS VICTIM

wAsurNGroN. Jan. Representative
Smith of Buffalo handed to acting Sec
rotary OF State Lansing to-day a tran
script OF the evidence brought out at the
Coroner's inquest into the killing Of one
American duck hunter and the woundns
Of another by Canadian patrols near Fort
Erie. Mr. Smith urged tho Department
to take prompt and vigorous action. lie
has been appealed to. he said oy many
persons In Buffalo who declare that the
inquest which resulted IN a verdict OF
accidental death was perfunctory.
The state Department Is awaiting a
complete report from Nice-ConsT Curtis
at Fort Erie II IL expected also 'hat
the British Embassy Will hand the lie,
partment all information NJ Its disposal
as soon as the investigation has been
completed
Included In the evidence was an
affidavit by Charles Dorsch which contra
diets the finding OF the Canadian jury ~
accidental death. Dorsch charges that
one OF the soldiers admitted to him that
he shot at him His affidavit reads
81 Charles Dorsch Of Buffalo. y Y,
being severely wounded and being APP
prehensve OF speedy death by reason OF
my wounds do hereby dopose and say
that on the morning Of MONDAY, December
2S, 1914, I. in company with ono walter
Smith. was duck shooting In Niagara
River opposite Buffalo, y Y, near tho
shore at Fort Erie. Canada. We were
600 yards away when the soldiers APP
peared
shots Came In NoileSs.
A couple OF them raised their guns
and fired / figured they wcren; trying
to hit me at that time, but soon the
shots came IN volleys Of four and i've NJ
time Bullets started to kick up the
ice all around.
81 stood UP and held up both my hands
could hear the soldiers holerlug, but |
could no. make out what they were say
ing: 50 | yelled What are you trying
to XIII man for? DO You want me to
SUR udcrH' Ny partner was trying 70
! make land then and counted nfton Or
sixteen shots before they reached me, and
then / lost track.
II got into the bDa- then and asked
Smith what We should do-go into shora
or pull away. They were SIN firing AT US
! stood up and holcred What do you
want us to do surrender, come in OF go
OUT | could not hear what they were
jabberng they kept on taking a pot 7hot
or two.
1T sounded as though they said, Beat
1t. get your ducks and GO; ou.; 50 W"
started TO gather up our d'Coys but W."
had not taken thrc" strokes from the Ice
cake before something ripped through my
right shoulder and down into my back.
and | knew had got H. kcelcd over
and RICH; after that my partner doubled
UP, hut | did not know ne was dead.
Three or four shots were fired after
we had kccled over. My right hand
trailed over the gunwale and heard some
one boiler: They arr trying to paddle
away with their hands and another Shot
: rang over our heads.
UcIui,.s Jnruets of Bullets.
/ After few minutes I felt some one
grab the boat and We got to the shore.
Nh the soldiers and men and women
gathered around turned to the SOL
diers there and said You are an all
I right pack OF soldiers. My partner had
! II right just before YOU shot him. He
7 said 1t was a fine business when We did
/ not know whether to come IN or Ep
out and TO have 10 stay there and take
our medicine
/ I've only did our duty said one Of
1 the soldierG Are YOU the man that got
u.s. | asked him 4 d.u't know hc
answered Did YOU shoot high or low %
| asked him. Z shot ~ YOU he an
sVercd. Well, then. it is up to you to
answer to all this. I said.
zone of the soldiers was shooting high,
/ for we could hear the bullets sing high over
! our heads. and two Of them were shoot
/ ing low, for the water would splash all
J around us did not know they We're
| shooting at us We would have come
to shore Il they had given u- a show.
I'VE lid no; raise orr guns ~ them
before they hrcd at us or while they
were hrinE After the, started 10 fire
dropped my gun and threw M my
I with no KUN IN his hands. We meant
. . "a r.Np 20