PEA RIFLE FATALITY.

Shannon News, 6 September 1927, Page 3

PEA RIFLE FATALITY.

YOUNG MAN’S DEATH IN SANDHILL COUNTRY. WEAPON EVIDENTLY DISCHARGED WHEN HE SLIPPED. A sad mishap occurred in the sandhill country near Hokio on Sunday afternoon. resulting in the death of a young man named John Jowers, who has been working in the Levin neighbourhood lately, and whose parents reside in Auckland. While descending a slope he evidently slipped, and was killed by the accidental discharge of a pea rifle, the bullet entering his back and reaching a vital spot. The deceased and another young man, named Henry Groome, both of whom were boarders at Mrs Simister’s, in Durham Street, left Leviif about 2 p.m., on a motor cycle, for the Sand road, a turn-off on the left of the Beach road, where the sandhills begin. They walked for several miles in the direc ‘tion of the coast to the south. Theii intention was to shoot rabbits, and foi this purpose they separated, so that about 4 o’clock, when the accident happened, Groome was oii top of a lidge, and his companion was working along near the foot of it. Groome heard a shot, followed by a cry of pain, and, hastening to Jowers’s aid, found him lying unconscious, with the gun on the ground a few yards behind him. Apparently he had slipped, and the weapon, which is an old-fasliioned one with a worn mechanism, discharged on striking the ground. As was shown subsequently, the bullet entered on the left side of deceased’s back and no doubt travelled upwaids. He was extremely unfortunate in the manner in which he received the charge, as- there are only one or two places in the body r where a .22 bullet could cause certain death.

Young Groome, realising that a serious injury had occurred, immediately made off in the direction of the town, with the object of securing aid. On the road he met a car driven by Mr A. Mottershead, Vho hurried him into Levin, where Dr. Hunter’s services were secured, together with of Constable Cosgrave, and they'with several helpers set out in a car for the locality with a stretcher.

A lengthy search ensued, and darkness fell before the scene of the accident could be located. Dr. Hunter and one other member of the party returned to town in order to secure lanterns

•slid provisions, anticipating an all-night search; and a large rescue party was organised, making 15 searchers in all. In the meantime, however, Constable Cosgrave and Henry Groome discovered the body. This was at about half-past eight, and a strenuous task followed when the search party had to carry the unfortunate young man back to the Beach road, the by-road not being negotiable by the'car that was in waiting. The deceased was of light build, Hut the rescuers were handicapped by the rough nature of the country, and by the partial darkness, relieved only by a quarter-moon, and it was not until about 11 p.m. that they reached the ear, after a journey estimated at some five miles. It is believed that the locality was only half a mile from the Ohau beach, but it is a wilderness of sandhills, manuka scrub, and swamps. The lqte Mr Jowers, whose parents, Mr and Mrs J. Jowers, live at 13, Newton road, Auckland, was 26 years of age, and unmarried, .and had been in Levin about five months. He had been employed cutting firewood for Mr E. Joll, Gladstone Road. > The decease was of a genial disposition, and during his brief residence in Levin he made many friends, who will deeply regret his untimely death and extend the full measure of their sympathy to the bereaved parents. An inquest will be held to-morrow.