FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.

West Coast Times, Issue 85, 19 December 1865, Page 2

FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.

One of thoso sad casualties that sometimes by their unexpectedness and melancholy results startle the community in whose midst they happen, forcibly reminding them of the uncertainty of human life, and tho necessity of ever being prepai-ed to leave this world and all its belongings, occurred yesterday in tho bush, on the south side of the" river,, through which the engineer of the steam tug Yarra lost his life. The details of this distressing event, as related to us by Captain Nichol, were, 1 that in consequence of its being an idle day with them', tho bar not being practicable, himself 'and the engineer, whose name was William Henry Williams, a native of the Isle of Wight, determined upon paying a visit to some friends, who resided on tho other side of the river ; and ns the day was remarkably fine they carried their guns with them in the expectation' of finding a littlo shooting with which to diversify their day's amusement. They reached their friend's house in due time, wUeve they remained a short time, being heartily welcomed and hospitably entertained with the usual bush fare of a cup of tea, and its concomitants, home-baked loaf and chop, afterwards pushing into the scrub in hopes of finding a few pigeons or kakas to carry back with them. They had hardly proceeded a couple of hundred yards when their course was obstructed by one of those high dead trees so often mot with, lying across their track, and over which they proceeded to scramble. Captain Nichol states, they were both standing on the top of it, the deceased being on his right hand, and were in the act of leaping down to the other side, holding their guns by tho muzzles and using them as supports, when he was startled by a loud roport and the exclamation from Williams of, " My God, lam shot !" Ho caught him in his arms as he was'falling, and upon examination — aftor cutting his clothes away — was horrified at perceiving a ghastly wound under the right breast, from which the blood was propelled in jets atevery respiration the poor fellow drew. He immediately placed his hand over it, and r.fterwards bandaged it, calling loudly for assistance in the meantime. As it chanced this wasnot far off, and a messenger was at once despatched across the river for medical aid, returning as soon as possible with Dr Berndt, who immediately proceeded to administer such aid as the circumstances permitted. Upon examination, however, he found the wound most serious, the right lungbeing not only perforated but completely shattered, a large portion of tho charge having gone through it, lodging in tho muscles of the back. He directly pronounced the case a hopeless one, nfc the same time directing that a stretcher should be prepared and the wounded man conveyed to the hospital. His orders wero at once complied with, although the sufferer more than once expressed it ns his conviction that "he Was dying— ho could feel it in his inside." His words were only too prophetic, for about an hour after his arrival at the hospital, he ceased to breathe. The deceased bore the best of characters, and was held in the highest estimation by his shipmates for his amiable disposition. Hd was also, a good son, yearly remitting to his parents a portion of his earnings, who by this untoward event aro deprived of one of tho props of their deolining age. An inquest will, of course, be held upon the remains of the unfortunate man.