A Distressing Accident.

Manawatu Herald, 15 October 1896, Page 3

A Distressing Accident.

It is seldom a holiday passes in Wellington that there is not an accident of 6ome sort to be chronicled. Yesterday was no exception, as a lad named George Carpenter, 13 years of age, living with his parents in Taranaki street, was accidentally I shnt in the stomaoh by a companion ! named Albert Swain. It appears that the i two boys left town about 9 o'clock yester- • morning for Crofton. Swain had with him a pistol and some 50 cartridges, and on their arrival at Crofton they went into the thick bush and amused themselves for awhile in firing at trees. Tiring of this they came out of the bush, and when at the back of the railway station Swain, who was walking a few yards in front of Oarpc-ntr-r, turned round to answer a remark of the latter's, when the pistol went off and the charge entered Carpenter's stomach. The injured !ad was taken to Mr Jol'y's residence, and Dr Cahill was pent for. The doctor at once proceeded to Crofton, and on examining the lad immediately ordered his removal to the Hospital, as the case was a serious one. The sufferer was brought into town by Messrs Jolly and Swain, and taken to the Hospital. Last night Drs Ewart, Collins, Martin and Mackin performed an operation on the lad, when it was found that the bowels had been perforated four or five times. The medical gentlemen consider the case a hopeless one. Carpenter exonerates his comrade from all blame, and has stated that the affair was purely accidental. The boys were the best of friends.