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Domestic News
March 24, 1873
Wilmington Daily Commercial
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
James McLaughlin was killed on a boat in Chester River when a young crew member accidentally fired a loaded gun at him as a prank, shooting him in the face.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A Foolish Practice.
FATAL TERMINATION OF AN ATTEMPTED JOKE.
James McLaughlin was instantly killed on a boat in Chester River, recently, under circumstances thus related by the Chestertown Transcript.
"Two of the crew had been ashore gunning in the afternoon and returned about night, laying their guns on the trunk over the cabin. The young man who was killed was lying asleep in a birth, and when the cook announced supper, one of the crew (not yet of age) picked up one of the guns and noticing that there was no cap on it, remarked to the captain, who was standing near, "if this gun is not loaded, I'll wake that fellow up and frighten him," and drawing the ram-rod ran it down the barrel, pronouncing the gun not loaded. Taking a seat on the rail of the boat, he raised the hammer, put on a cap, and ran the barrel through a small grated window in the side of the trunk, reaching forward with the gun at arm's length, to within a few inches of the sleeper's face, pulled the trigger, and instead of frightening him by the explosion of the cap, sent a load of shot through the side of the poor fellow's face and out at the back of his head, making a ghastly wound and causing death without a struggle."
FATAL TERMINATION OF AN ATTEMPTED JOKE.
James McLaughlin was instantly killed on a boat in Chester River, recently, under circumstances thus related by the Chestertown Transcript.
"Two of the crew had been ashore gunning in the afternoon and returned about night, laying their guns on the trunk over the cabin. The young man who was killed was lying asleep in a birth, and when the cook announced supper, one of the crew (not yet of age) picked up one of the guns and noticing that there was no cap on it, remarked to the captain, who was standing near, "if this gun is not loaded, I'll wake that fellow up and frighten him," and drawing the ram-rod ran it down the barrel, pronouncing the gun not loaded. Taking a seat on the rail of the boat, he raised the hammer, put on a cap, and ran the barrel through a small grated window in the side of the trunk, reaching forward with the gun at arm's length, to within a few inches of the sleeper's face, pulled the trigger, and instead of frightening him by the explosion of the cap, sent a load of shot through the side of the poor fellow's face and out at the back of his head, making a ghastly wound and causing death without a struggle."
What sub-type of article is it?
Accident
Death Or Funeral
What keywords are associated?
Gun Accident
Fatal Joke
Boat Shooting
James Mclaughlin
What entities or persons were involved?
James Mclaughlin
Where did it happen?
Chester River
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Chester River
Event Date
Recently
Key Persons
James Mclaughlin
Outcome
james mclaughlin was instantly killed by a gunshot wound to the face and head.
Event Details
James McLaughlin was asleep in a berth on a boat in Chester River when a young crew member, attempting to frighten him with an unloaded gun as a joke, fired it through a window, shooting him fatally.