San Diego County CA Archives Obituaries.....Coon, Datus E. December 17, 1893
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San Diego Union; December 17, 1893
GEN. COON FATALLY SHOT - ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE OF A
REVOLVER IN J. H. GROVESTEEN'S HAND

The Wounded Man at the House of the Latter Kept Alive By Stimulants,
But Steadily Sinking This Morning and Sure to Die.

	At 9 o'clock yesterday morning Gen. Datus E. Coon was 
accidentally shot by his friend J. H. Grovesteen. The ball, of 32 calibre,
entered about an inch below and two inches to the right of the navel,
inflicting and exceadingly painful and perhaps fatal wound.
	The manner in which the accident occurred and the 
circumstances connected with it were described by Mr. Grovesteen to
a Union reporter, and his version was corroborated by Gen. Coon in
conversations with Gen. Murray and Judge Luce after the unfortunate
occurrence took place.
	"I had promised Father Ubach to go out to the old mission this
morning to repair an organ at the Indian school," said Mr. Grovesteen,
"and was anxious to have a companion on the trip. In fact, Mrs. 
Grovesteeninsisted that I should not go alone, on account of the large 
number of tramps said to have been encountered at different times lately 
by travelers in outlying districts of the city, and in consequence I asked
two or three different friends to go along before I thought of Gen. Coon.
None of the others could go, but the general was unoccupied and said
he would be delighted to take the outing. This was at the Albemarle hotel,
where I met him about 8 o'clock in the morning. He went up to his room
and got his revolver and then we drove to my house at First and Date 
streets. The general remaines in the buggy while I went in and procured 
my tools my tools and a lunch to be taken along. When these had been
placed in the rear of the vehicle. I stepped into the buggy at the right side.
Noticing that the general carried his revolver in his outside upper coat.
I thought to put my revolver, an old fashioned weapon and one which
I had not seen for perhaps three years, in the same pocket in my coat.
I took the scabbard containing it from my side pocket, and curious to 
see the condition of the revolver, drew it from the scabbard. After a 
glance I returned it to the scabbard, but in some unaccountable manner,
and while the revolver was still in my grasp, the wepon was discharged,
blowing out the end of the scabbard. Before I had looked up Gen. Coon,
sitting beside me, gasped, "You have killed me, Grovesteen; I am done
for !"
	"I was horror stricken, but realizing the situation I immediately 
began to assist the general in getting to the ground, and with but little help
from me he walked up the strps to the house and into a room, where he
reclined on a bed. I made him as comfortable as possible at a moment's 
notice, and leaving him in my wife's care, I ran to Dr. Edward's residence.
That physician responded at once. He found by a hasty examination 
that the wound was an exceedlingly dangerous one, and called in other
physicians. Drs. Mafee, Hearne and Burton, the latter the Army 
surgeon at the barracks were called. From what they told me I fear there
is very slight hope for my poor friend. It was a terrible accident.
	Besides the doctors named there were numerous friends and
acquaintances of the general at the house within a short time after the
shooting, but owing to the nature of the unfortunate man's wound no
one was admitted except Capt. Dill and one or two old army friends of
the general, who acted in the capacity of nurses during the afternoon.
	
REMOVAL OF BULLET ATTEMPTED

	A consultation of the physicians about noon resulted in a 
decision that the only hope of saving the man's life lay in making an
incision in the hope of findinh the bullet, which in the doctors
opinion took a slightly upward course after entering the body. Pains
which the general experienced in the right shoulder almost constantly 
led to the belief that the ball had pierced the liver. At 3:30 in the 
afternoon Gen. Coon was taken from the bed and placed upon a table
preparatory to undergoing the dangerous operation. Ether was
administered, but its effect upon the sick man was such that the
physicians saw that death would be likely to result if its use was continued.
The operation was consequently not performed, and the general was
in such a strate of collapse that he was not removed from the table. He was
at last accounts in a decidedly critical condition.
	The wound inflicted by the bullet did not cause any hemorrage 
externally or otherwise so far as the physicians were able to discover.
There was no blood noticeable when the sick man vomited, and this fact
mystifies rather than tends to explain the real nature of the wound.
	At an early hour this morning the wounded man was somewhat
more restless than during the day. At about 9 o'clock he had a sinking
spell, but prompt action on the part of his physician prevented any serious
result. Gen. Coon was entirley conscious throughout the night, conversing
occasionally with Comrades T. B. Hartsell and D. A. Jones, who attended 
him. Dr. Wakefield called three times during the night, and could hardly
say that the general's condition had improved. On the contrary, he believed 
the wounded man was slowly but steadily sinking. The strongest stimulants 
are being administered in the hope of prolonging his life at least until the
arrival of his daughter. The physicians agree that the wound is fatal and
that the general cannot long survive.
	Gen. Coon, who has lived in San Diego a long time, has always
been exceedingly popular as a citizen and a member of the G.A.R., and
(canot read). Many a anxious inquiries were made at the house as to his
condition throughout the afternoon, and the deplorable accident was but
one subject of conversation among hundreds of persons. No blame is in
any way attached to Mr. Grovesteen, but rather keen sympathy, for he
had been an intimate friend of Gen. Coon.
	The only near relative of Gen. Coon is a daughter, Mrs. Charles 
Loomis, who is a resident of San Francisco. She was telegraphed to
immediately after the accident and is doubtless now far on her way
toward this city.
	LATER - Gen. Coon died verly quietly at 2:44 this morning.

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