DEATH OF MR. JOHN INGRAM SHRIMPTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 432, 24 December 1856, Page 7

DEATH OF MR. JOHN INGRAM SHRIMPTON.

It is to-day our most painful duty to add another to the list of fatal accidents which, already unusually numerous, have formed a deep shadow to contrast with the proper gaieties of this season. We have now to record the death, by an accident of a most painful though simple nature, of Mr. John Ingrain Shrinipton, one of the earliest colonists of Canterbury, and the man who, with a few energetic assistants, published the first number of the ' Lyttelton Times ' in the open air, on an unenclosed spot in the centre of this town, a very few days after the disembarkation of himself and his fellow-adventurers from those four famous ships. Those of our readers who were of that nmnber whose arriral we commemorated only the other day, for the sixth time, will remember the peculiar interest with which the work then being done by this young man, whose loss we now lament, was looked upon by themselves in the heat and confusion of first landing, and by both friends and strangers in the old country at home. The early connection of Mr. Shrinipton with this paper, continuing till a very short time since, and coupled with the peculiarly distressing circumstances of the case, greatly increase the pain which we always must feel in narrating the loss of a life in our small community. Sad as it is to record or read of such an event, we must leave it to those who have suffered such a loss themselves to imagine the sorrow of the acquaintances and friends of the deceased, to whom his amiable qualities had endeared him ; of the family from among whom he, its best loved member, its hope and stay, has suddenly dropped : and, of the brother, most to be pitied as the innocent means of the death of one towards whom he bore a constant and remarkable affection. The -narrative of the sad event is very simple. Mr. Shrinipton and his younger brother, Mr. Walter Shrimpton, sons of Mr. Ingram Shrinipton of this town, in the enjoyment of a week's holiday, were duck shooting near the River Ashley, on last Saturday. It happened that the elder brother beinij a short distance in advance, and seeing a favourable opportunity for a shot, turned round and called to the other to come on. Mr. Waiver Shrimpton,cocking his gun, and at the same time making a, hasty step forward, slipped, or tripped, and iell; the gun went oft*, and the contents lodged in his Orotlu-r's heart. On finding what had oeeumul, Mr. Walter Shrimpton hmne-iiiately hurried to M ilier's House of Accommodation, at the Salt Water Creek, asked for help, and sent a messenger t"or medical assistance. On arrival at the scene ot* the accident, it was found that death hud actually occurred, and the body was remove*.! k> Miller's house, whore m\ inquest wt.s held ori Monday, before the coroner, \\\ Donald, ilsij.

The evidence produced was as follows. Walter George Shvhnpton, sworn, s>;uit l!:e deceased John ln^r.nu Shrmtptoa ivus \;>v brother ; on Saturday hist the 1:0 th of DtvemWr.. we weiv both out shooting; my brother had a single barrelled gun, I had a double barrelk'd gun ; wo went to the Wnikxiku, a orook at the baric ot'the Sand 3111!.-;; I was same £0 yards, behind liim ; we saw f-omo diu-k^ in the- swamp, ho beckoned to me suul called to me ; I had tuy

tzim on my shoulder-md lookiuYom wy>houhlor a:id cocked one barrel: 1 ran tmvard> whore ho AV-U--. ami wlun I go; within two. throe or four AnrJs niviV-i': ! ripped oil her in aholeorsomobush, and 1 toll on my Sof: km-o nml elbow, anil the irsm won* oil*, either a> I was falling or from ;he .-luvk of the tVii; r.iy {jucvk was on Iho trigger, my thumb i»n the hammer in tho net of oivk:riL, r; tho ohnrci- s-irnolc tin* tliToa^iHl a.< I| thout:]'.! on the- r\-j.h: >uw l>y tho rihb. he was Ifnainsr M «h« l iii^o : he n-so uji. >{^irir'^vd ami ■oH : ln s jn>t s;jiij oh ! ami iVil : 1 ran to him. I n:.\v lu> \v:,< MiVviiiii;. r»nvi Hihnl him out of <ho Ik-]-,- ho ti j] iji; I r.-n.-rd his:?, ho slijijnnl h:i<*k ;iiT.iin : 1 r.in to fora>s!Jst«ncc. I ?.'sw Mr. Gi.iij,-t.'r.i\ he «vm with ir.o anil vliivcteJ mo wju-iv !*• find Mr. Miller, Mr. iXimpiov and My. 31;-.^ :i; we jinvt-oilod Jo n:v brotlior. that is. Mr. j»::»:Mioe. Mr. Milli-r and'myisoli". 1 asked Mr. M.i>o:i Jo iro for a 1 Wior as wo wont; when we jXo; u« n;y br>;hi.-r Mr. Miller .<.jid he was dead. I n.ivf hhoi hut lii-ro njui occ;si>>nally in ling- }?,:;,!. 1 .mi uoi wry much used t<> a gun. Hi-nry John (tlri^umo sworn, said ; on tlrsy ].n?:. a: h;ilt"]ia>t as 1 was siandinpf ai the i:o.>r ff The r.<voij.oi:it:on hv>usi i. a jx*rson came ru:ir.:n£r -''P and w.-i;u<tl me lo a-sist him. saying t'n.-jt 3u- jj.ij >3io; hU i-roilier in a swamp. I said. ('.■■ Tilt' wits iTt-a :»<.sj.-l.tnri\ and Wi-nt to find Mr. Mil^r. l»:::j|iiir. s:k! Mr^on. en which Mr. jlilUr r.TV. ir.y^h" VR-Ciaded niih the l:\st \riti.i'i^ whojird .-n;riu:i':Jiii u> to the jiiace of the ..■•. id-. :n : r.Kir M-arvhhifr for a short liir.o we ."i-ivwri-oi tlu- 1-o-h lying or, :i:o i-dgv of a low I ::ik -. mi lumini: th\- he"«! vrt- dis-covvrod that ::. - l>c>.l\ w.ii quitil dead : I iht"n vroci-cti^l back "..' '.hi- i.oayv iW n:(.-;jr:< of earrvinir zlie body .and. r.-*.r.rntii v.-i:l; ;i .•i.njjj- vf t-^rds Trbicli we- ; '>i. jh*il toi.'l-LiK-r and j-iaec-I hint on ; wy :nct I'r. T!i-sv,ifk. wi,o t xaii2:rjs.«l :Ix- iv-dy and taid i:.- ia> <j':lu? dt-ad. A. vt-r.iitt w;,s r-uirat-d oi A^ndenia? DiO.f/ t . T!..- Ic-dy of the dnv^ci J.ss !-,^:i removed Ly to Lyiit-hoii. fl-r i:n-.-r:n-nt en Friday :. x:. Mr Shr:!Qj-iton v,a= ia his 23rd year.