SENSATIONAL MISHAP

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 141, 23 September 1910, Page 2

SENSATIONAL MISHAP

the king shoots a friend, lord Kilmarnock badly WOUNDED. (From the Australian Press.) All England to-<lay is wildly excited j over ,a highly sensational accident that occurred yesterday at a- royal hunting ! expedition at Balmoral, His Majesty's i picturesquely-situated cattle in Braemar, Scotland. Braemar is noted for its forests and red deer, and deer-stalking is the regular thing when members of the Royal family are in residence at Balmoral. Yesterday,' however, it ap•pears the party were after grouse, and were using fowling pieces—which was perhaps unfortunate for one of the sportsmen. The King had gone out accompanied .by Lord 'Kilmarnock and the latter's brother-in-law. Sir Victor Mackenzie, Bart. His Majesty has the reputation of being rather a good shot, but yesterday his marksmanship appears to have been a trifle erratic, to say the least of it. It really cannot ■be #aid exactly what &a the most desperate efforts have beei made to hush the whole thing up. But it has transpired that Lord Kilmarnock was shot by His Majesty and badly wounded. It was only with the greatest difficulty that what few particulars have b«en published were gleaned. At the time of the accident Lord Kilmarnock was standing about 40 yards from the King, who was carryhg a double - barrelled hammerless gun. Whether the weapon went off accidentally, or whether His Majesty fired at something, not knowing that Lord Kil■marnock was in the way, cannot be ascertained. But the gun did go off, and liis lordship got the full charge at what was well within the "killing 5 ' distance for game. The mishap, of course, created intense consternation amon'gst the other members of the shooting party. It was at once seen that the victim was badly hurt. He had been thickly peppered "about the face and body. Indeed', it is said, that but for the protection afforded by his glasses he would have been blinded for life. The King, of course, was much distressed at the untoward occurrence, which, needless to say, brought the day' pleasure to an abrupt termination-