FATAL ACCIDENT TO VOLUNTEER OFFICERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 116, 15 May 1880, Page 1

FATAL ACCIDENT TO VOLUNTEER OFFICERS.

j A melancholy accident, resulting, fatally td two officers, occurred on Gthj Mtorcfr aVtbe^battery of the Ist Lan-i IJ oti -theMßaigfa^ lAyrtliire. -A party oij ■ eighteen Vfeloiiteeridflicerflj under the, conimand of Colonel Watsoa, hi»d goiio, l

down from Glasgow for shell practice ; the preparations had been almost completed, and the Sergeant-Instructor was in the act of driving the fuse into a 40-. pounder i shell with a wooden mallet, when the shell burst. One of the fragments, fell into another shell which was standing open near, and it also exploded. When ;the smoke cleared away it was found that no fever, than nine persona were very seriously injured, and thai the others iv the battery had had narrow escapes, as had also -the spectators who were outside. Colonel Watson's left leg was smashed at the knee. Sergeant Kirker's left arm and . shoulder were shattered, and his left foot was blown off, his boot striking a spectator named John Reid, who stood near. Major Mathieston received a severe concussion in the abdomen, causing serious -internal injuries. Captain Reid received wounds in the face and knee ; Captain Shaw, a flesh wound on the left thigh ; Lieutenant Brown, a somewhat serious scalp wound; Captain Marsh, R.A., had his right wrist injured ; Captain Wilson. R.A., was injured in both legs ; while Captain Bayne received scratches on the hands. The wounded were removed to the Eglingtdn Arms Hotel, where they received every attention from the local medical men. It was deemed necessary to amputate Colonel Watson's leg but he gradually sank from loss of blood. Rirker also died, having previously made a voluntary statement to the effect that he alone was to blame for the accident* The other sufferers are progressing favorably. Colonel Watson was a merchant in Glasgow, and was a son of the City Chamberlain. He had been connected with the Volunteer movement since it was started in 1859. Some of the uninjured officers had most marvellous escapes, one having a considerable portion of his clothing destroyed, but escaping any bodily injury.