FATAL SPORTING ACCIDENT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1345, 22 January 1881, Page 2

FATAL SPORTING ACCIDENT.

The following particulars of the sad death of Mr Percy Edward Flint, art old resident in Victoria (who was acci* dently shot on Boxing Day, near Jel loar Creek, New South Wales, whilst wallaby shooting), are supplied by the Sydney Morning Herald:—“ Deceased was one of a party of four, who started at 4 a.m. on Boxing. Day, to Shoot across the cultivation paddocks of Lake’s farm. They went into.the scrub, firing in very extended order .Until they caolO to the creek in which the accident took place. The party formed in a line across the gully. Messrs DaWson, Flint, and Lee, armed with shot guns, took one side of the creek, and William Flavelle took the other side,' where the?, country was more open, for he carried a revolving-rifle. Following out Mi* Flint’s directions, be kept slightly ahead, so as to, keep the, game from crossing the creek and escaping up the less precipitous side of the gaily. Flint shot a wallaby, arid stopped to take the tail. Flavelle fired, a shot at a wallaby and probably missed. Lee then fired at it, and,immediately Flint cried oat he was shot, and was found by the party siting on a rocky ledge,-with the tail of the wallaby by his-side, and, on opening his shirt, his breast was found to be pierced with fifteen shot, as Was subsequently discovered) although at first only seven shot were foitad. This was at 25 minutes to 8 in the morning; He bled internally and knew he was dying from the, very first. All was done that could be thought of to alle*' viate his sufferings. Mr Lee held hihi up to prevent his suffocating, whilst Messrs Dawson and Flavelle fetched water in their hats. The former thett went for help. Deceased bade him an affectionate farewell, knowing he had not many minutes to live. After Dawson’s departure he asked Lee and Flavelle to pray for him, and expired with out a groan. He had not a chance, as he was hit on both breasts, the shoulders, side, and heart, and the immediate cause of death was syncope of the heart. He was a man of great courage and splendid physique: He only lived seven minutes after the buckshot entered his breast. He had gained great distinction in various parts of the world in saving life, and told his friends that was the object for which he Jived. While in Indian waters, a little girl dropped a kitten Overboard, and, childlike, jumped after it. Flint plunged in after her, although the vdasel was steaming about 12 knots an hour, and saved her, after an immersion of three-quarters of an hour. He saved three other lives. A magisterial in* quiry was held, the decision being that the death was purely accidental, and was caused by the shots in the heart and lungs. Deceased was 23 years of ago. He was formerly employed in the Bank of Australasia, both in Victoria and in New South Wales.”