FATAL ACCIDENT AT WELLLLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 9, 23 April 1879, Page 4

FATAL ACCIDENT AT WELLLLINGTON.

A very melancholy and dislreeeinsj * fatal accident occurred on Saturday, about 12 o'clock, to Master Beitie Duncan, eldest eon of Mr R. J. Duocan. So far as we bave been able to ascertain the facte appear to be ss follows : — The young geutlemsu left his father's house about 9 o'clock, io company with Master Herbert Stock, boo of the Yen. Archdeacon, and his younger brother Henry Duncan, about 13 years old, for the. purpose of rabbit shooting io the direction of Happy Valley. The same youths had frequently been on similar excursions, ond no apprehension was entertained aririog from the u.e of a fowling piece. News reached Mr Duncan's house about 3 o'clock that hH son had shot himself in the left arm, and was then heing carried in frotn Burgee.'. Bush, about five or six miles away, oo the hack of one of Mr Fitcheu'd iceD. Hia uacle, who happened to have returned that morntog from Nelson, ia>me<ii-te)y proceeded to Mr Filchett's, od tbe Ohiro road, and found tlat the poor boy had been carefully carried over four miles of ▼cry rough, broken country. He bed got much shaken, and bad lost a large quantity of blood. He had swooned several times, but was still conscious. Mr Henry Duncan prepared a litter, and, with the assistance of four men, brought him to his father's house about four o'clock. Dr Fraser had been sent for, and arrived almost at the came time, but on a cursory examination, found the injuries sustained lo be of suoh ao alarming nature that he de. dined acting until Dr Grace, who bad been sent for arrived. The result of the examination of the wound, which ■' was a frightful one, determined the medical men to decide that immediate amputation was necessary. This was skilfully performed under chloroform, and all seemed to be going on well when, within balf-an-bour afterwards, tb. unfortunate lad breathed hia Uat'. It appears that tbe gun was beiog held by Master Duncan, bis left arm resting on the muzzle when ttie gun went off, it is thought from the trigger having ben tonched by his right foot. The little Batterer, all throughout, behaved in a very plucky manner, and even a few moments before the operation was performed, ladghiogly asked one of his jiisters when she had returned to Wellington, «ad paid that he was not much hurt, and wonld be all right to-morrow. It is unnecessary to say tbat great sym- >

pithy has been felt and exhibited towords tho family in their sudden hereavemeDt. This has been doce very largely ly children of hia own see, ned hia many friends end a<qunintanres. The Arcudeaeou referred to the Buljrct in his nddns. to the children f*t their special service yesterday at St. Peter's Church, and related (hat hie son hf d told him that Bertie bnd said if he never recovered, and happened fo dip, he wes sure that tho gentle Je6ua would lake him to his arms fcr t-vir. Naturally an intelligent ond generouß child, tie sad occurrence hss fpreod a glorm ever n:er.y families in towc.