The Ouachita Telegraph - James C. Colvin Killed by Accidental Weapon Discharge Date: Oct 2000 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, July 31, 1886 Page 3, Column 4 A most deplorable accident befell Mr. James C. Colvin, of our town, yesterday morning. In company with Allen Neilson he left town about 7 o’clock in a buggy for Mr. Wm. Wilson’s farm, five miles from town, to join several others from town in a bird hunt. At Mr. Jesse McLain’s plantation, three miles from town, he got out of his buggy to look for some birds in Mr. McLain’s field. Not finding any, he returned to his buggy, Allen Neilson being some distance off, got in the buggy and in turning the horse his gun slipped and in falling one barrel was discharged and the entire contents passed through his left arm midway between the elbow and shoulder, crushing the bone and tearing the flesh fearfully. He was carried to Mr. McLain’s residence and Drs. Null and Laurence at once summoned, who on arriving found it necessary to amputate the limb close up to the shoulder. After the operation was performed, which is said to have been a very skillful one, the large artery broke loose and could not be gotten hold of again. Dr. McCormick was sent for, and the three succeeded in taking up the artery, but almost immediately afterwards the poor fellow breathed his last. He bore his misfortune heroically to the last. – Ruston Caligraph. # # #