The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-07-07

Accidental Discharge of Gun Cost
Lagrange Sistrunk His Life

LaGrange SIStrunk His Life
The people of Ocala were dread
fully shocked this morning to hear
that Mr.. LAGRANGE Sistrunk, while
cleaning gun, had shot himself, and
two or three hours later were deeply
grieved to learn that the wound had
proven fatal.
Mr.. Sistrunk, who belongs to the
navy, had been home for ten DAYS on
furlough, and intended to leave for
Pensacola, to resume his duties today.
He had arisen early and it is suppos-
ed, desiring to leave his personal be-
longings, which he might not see
again for many months, in good
order, began cleaning his guns. He
had a shotgun and rifle. The for
mer he had cleaned and put away, but
when he picked up the rife it went
off, and the bullet went thru his body
below his heart. There is no explain
alton of the accident, which have
happened in any one of several ways,
but the most probable is that he rails
ed the hammer of the gun and forgot
to lower it, and swinging the gun
around it struck something which
caused it to fire. It was utterly i'm
possible for him to have reached the
trigger of the gun in the position it
was in.
The unfortunate young man fell to
the floor and was found there
by the old colored woman who was a
servant in the family and who was
the only person in the house at that
time. She called for help and friends
rushed in from the nearby homes. A
physician was hastily summoned and
he was taken to the hospital, but he
bled internally and died about two
hours after the accident.
The young man was all alone at the
timeof the accident. His father, Mr..
S. T. Sistrunk, the only other men,
Der of the family at home, was down
town in his office. LAGRANGE was
able to speak only once or twice after
he was shot. He told the old woman
who found him that he had accidental
ly shot himself.
Lagrange Sistrunk was one of the
most popular boys in Ocala. He was
the only son and eldest child of Mr..
and Mrs. S. T. Sistrunk. He was
about twenty years old. Two years
ago, he enlisted as cadet in the navy
and spent several months in training
camps and on shipboard. Not expect
ing war, and knowing he was needed
at home, he bought out" and return
ed to Ocala. AS soon as war between
this country and Germany began, he
notified the department he was ready
for service, tho he was not liable for
2 year or more yet. He went to Pen
sacola a few weeks ago, stood and
passed examination, and had been
promised a berth on board a battle
ship, it being his special ambition to
serve in guncrew. He came home
for a brief vacation, which he most
intensely enjoyed with his friends.
Only Wednesday he had one of the
honored places in the fourth of July
parade. He was boy of splendid
character, the dear and honored friend
of all who knew him, and hard it is
indeed for those who knew his young
life full of promise to realize that he
is dead. He was special friend
to all connected with the Star, and we
had promise from him that he would
"come by" today, on his way to the
train to tell us goodbye.
The funeral arrangements are not
yet known. His almost broken
hearted father was joined this after
noon by his daughter, Mrs. Acker,
who hurried here from Tampa on
hearing of the accident. His mother,
who has been for the last few weeks
IN the mountains of Tennessee, has
been telegraphed for, but viii not be
able to reach Ocala before tomorrow
afternoon or maybe Monday morn
ing. Mrs. A. J. Beck is on her way
from Fort Lauderdale and may pos
sibly be here tomorrow morning.
Other relatives have come over from
the old home place in west Marion.
Not only his sorrowing relatives
and friends, but his country, have
lost a brave young man who would
be sadly missed at any time and whose
loss is specially deplorable now.
It is now understood that the fun