Gun Accident at Paraewanui.

Manawatu Herald, 13 May 1893, Page 3

Gun Accident at Paraewanui.

"We regret to have 'to reeo*J. that Mi Lv Holmes, the wellfcrtdwn trainer of Mr Utiku MarumAfu'B racehorses met with rather sertotts injuries through the accidental discharge of a gun on Thursday morning at Paraewanui. The circum- ■ stances of the case are these : — Holmes, who lives at Utiku Marumaru's place, bad been down at Mrs Camettm's store and returned home with a Martini-Henri fowling piece, which was loaded. When he arrived home he was met by Fred Price, a jockey employed in the stable, who asked Holmes for a loan of the gun. Holmes handed it to him, saying, " Take care, it is loaded," and walked off towards his house. > Price evidently did not hear the injunction about the gun being loaded-, for he pulled the trigger.* and Holmes received the full charge ot No. & shot in his thighs , from the back. He was immediately taken into the house, and trice, mounted on Songster, want off at full pace for Dr. Bennett. The Doctor was very promptly •on the. spot, but in the meantime he had been removed to Mrs Cameron's residence, . wncre he could have more careful treat' Went. The injured man was in too weak a condition for the doctor to do more than make him as comfortable as possible at that time. He returned in the afternoon, when Holmes had regained sufficient to justify the doctor in administering chloroform. This being done he proceeded to <extraot the. shots. These were very much scattered in both thighs, but the most of them were successfully extracted. Fully 35 shots entered the two legs, some of them coming through to the skin on the side opposite to that on which it entered. It was very fortunate that Holmes was not close to the gun - when it went off, or the accident would undoubtedly have been more serious. As it is the legs are both very much perforated. After the operation was finished Dr. Bennett dressed the wounds and the suffering man is now making good progress, and the Dootor anticipates a rapid recovery. The accident is another warning that persons cannot be too daretul in their handling of tire-arms. —^Advocate.