The Gun in the Wagon

Hardly a day passes that the reader of the daily press is not warned against the careless handling of loaded firearms by reports of deaths and injuries to persons through reckless use of guns, and yet people continue to jeopardize themselves and others by persistent carelessness. One of the saddest cases of this kind ever to occur in the territory happened last Sunday morning at Loon Lake, a station on the Spokane and Fort Colville road, thirty-eight miles north of this city.

Last Saturday a party of four men passed through this city bound for the Colville Valley in search of land to locate upon, supplied with a full outfit. After getting directions as to the road, they continued on their way, reaching Loon Lake, a favorite camping spot on the route, that evening. Sunday morning one of the party, H. P. Fox, a native of Indiana who had been stopping at Vancouver for some weeks, put his shotgun into the wagon, both barrels heavily charged. Shortly after breakfast, when the party wanted to load their equipment, Fox stepped to the vehicle and tried to remove the gun by drawing it toward him. One barrel discharged, and the contents struck him in the muscular part of the right arm just above the elbow, mangling it frightfully. In fact, the arm hung only by a few shreds of flesh.

One of the party was a physician, and he at once did all in his power, but having no instruments he could only take up the bleeding arteries and apply a tourniquet. The party started back to Spokane Falls for medical aid and reached the city Sunday evening. Fox was taken to Dr. J. M. Morgan's office. The bones and flesh were shattered to shreds, and amputation was decided upon at once, though Fox was very low from shock, ill health, and loss of blood. The operation was quickly performed, the arm being removed a few inches below the shoulder.

During Sunday night the injured man came near dying, and neither physician had much hope. He rallied somewhat Monday, but toward evening grew weaker and died Tuesday. Everything was done for him that lay in human power, but the extent of the injury, the long ride afterward, and his broken health all worked against him. Mrs. Fox, who was at Vancouver, was informed of the accident and started for the Falls, not learning of the fatal result until she reached here Wednesday. She has two young children, and the death of her husband leaves her in a destitute condition. Her distress is heartrending. The remains were interred in the cemetery at this place, and the unfortunate widow and mother will return to Vancouver until she can secure enough means to take her back to her home in North Carolina.