A Curious Accident

Last Saturday afternoon ibout four o'clock as two sons of Mr. Coulson, living on the McCardy farm soutli of the city, were picking berries at the roadaide near Mallett's Creek on the Ypsilantl road, below the county house, the oldest, some ten years of age, was struck In the right side of the forehead by a cartridge flred 'as explained hereafter. The blow broke in the skull, and when Dr. Kapp was summoned he found it necessary to remove a portion of the same ; more of the skull was removed at his visit Friday morning followlng. The younger son at flrst said that his brother was hit by a stoue thrown by onc of the foolish boys at the county houe, about ten rods distant ; some investigation, however, led parttw to belleve that the lad had been struck by a spent rifle ball from some hunkert gun. The true explanation has just come to liglit through the younger son's confession to a neighbor boy, who In turn informed Mr. McDowell, of the cou:ity house. The particulars are as tot lows, and show that a new kind of gun has been invented by some of the boys soutli of the city. lts use has proved quite unfortunate in one instiince, and 'tis a matter of surprise that othersof the boys who iiave been using similar guns have escaped severe injury up to date. Sticks about three feet long, sometimes a broom stick, were taken and near one end were chamfered off, perhaps four inches back; a or eight-penny nail was driven into the stick, leaving the head projecting slightly above the wood, againet which a two-inoh cartridge, loaded by the boys wtth powder and shot, was placed- it was expccted that the nail would prevent the cartrulge'sfii ing back. Small nails driven into the stick, and lof t projecting, kept the cartridge from falling off at the side. Gun ready now, and boy at one end with loaded cartridge at the other, the stick being held up to the eye tosightover: resul t, a shot boy oftener than otherwise. Whatever it was that struck young Coulson, it took a curious coursc from the light-hand side of the forehead around tlie skull under the scalp, and lodged at the base of the hcad at the left-hand side; it is possible that it deflected from the head at this point, as no trace of it hai been found yet. The recovery of Coulson is donbtful. The accident will probablv discontinue the use of this new weapon at present.