The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-10-23

Fatally wounded when a rifle in the
hands of his hunting companion was
accidentally discharged, J. Howard
Waddell, of Stanford, Mont, "a years
of age and student at Montana State
college, died early Sunday evening at
the DeacOness hospital.
The tragedy happened about Q
o'clock Sunday morning 35 miles
from Bozeman in the mountains north
of Pass creek, where Waddell, with
! Carl Albrecht, classmate at the col
lege, was hunting deer. The young
men were following game tracks down
the mountainside when the .35 caliber
automatic rifle in the hands Of AL
brecht was accidentally discharged.
Waddell, so startled by the report
that he did not realize he was
wounded, turned to ask Albrecht why
he had fired, when weakness over
came him and he tainted.
Aid Is Summoned
Albrecht Immediately placed the
unconscious Waddell in a sheltered
spot, covered him with his coat, and
|
half miles away. Finding no one
there, he went to the AIcBroOm place,
half a mile away, and telephoned to
2 Bozeman for a doctor. Then, accom-
{ panied by Elmer Tillery, he returned
. to the scene of the accident and by
+ the time more help arrived they had
D gotten the mounded man to the bot
5 tom of the hill. With great difficulty
I and much delay he was carefully
transported down a narrow trail to
the main road, where an automobile
was waiting to begin the race with
death.
Owing to the rough roads, this trip
consumed three hours, making seven
J hours in all that elapsed between the
time Waddell was shot and his arrival
4 at the hospital. Shock, less of blood,
and exposure had SO weakened him
r that he succumbed three hours later.
t DR.. J. F. Blair said the heavy bullet
] had entered the left thigh, fracturing
r the femur and lacerating the muscles
= severely.
= Had Taken Precautions.
Young Albrecht is PROSTATE with
q grief. On the trip in he said that
just prior to the accident he and Wad-
e dell had examined their guns to make
e sure the safeties were on. He de-
4 clared he did not know how his rifle
was discharged; that when he ex-
amined it again after Waddell was
f shot he found the safety still on and
! the empty cartridge case in the
chamber, from which, with normal
functiOning, the action should have
{ elected it. Waddell, who recovered
consciousness en- the way to Bozeman,
told what had happened, as far as he
z knew, and his statements, it is said,
corrobOrated those of his companion.
/ Burial at Stanford.
Funeral services were held at
o'clock Monday afternoon at the West
chapel, after which the body was
taken to Stanford, Wadden's home,
Tor burial. The funeral sermon was
preached by the Rev. H. G.. Klemme,
pastor Of the First Presbyterian
church, and President Alfred Atlzin-
son, president of the State college,
also spoke, paying high tribute to the
{, dead man. The College band, many
q students, and members Of the Knights
!, Of Pythias, with which organization
1 Waddell was affiliated, attended the
t services. Guy Waddell, a brother Of
{. the deceased, came to Bozeman to ac-
"a company the body to Stanford
a j. Howard Wadden was a son Of
d Mr.. and Mrs. q j Waddel. A junior
at the State college, he was enrolled
e in the agricultural course. He roomed
e here at the home Of Mrs. Sanford
d Moore, All West Koch street. he was
e q young man Of unusual ability and
B great personal charm and was very
popular among the students and ths
faculty.