Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Bird, Fred 1904
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Pat Blood pat.blood@gmail.com April 9, 2010, 11:16 am

Ionia Daily Standard – Monday, 24 October 1904
Hunting fatalities have not yet become so common, but that they still retain 
elements of the sensational.  The combination of boy and gun, or careless or 
green sportsman of any age with gun, will continue to be a menace to life, so 
long as guns are so commonly handled for fun.  Yesterday afternoon, Fred Bird 
and his brother Augustus were strolling along the river bank, when the brother 
noticed a bullet strike in the brush near them, and told Fred they had best 
look out.  Fred made some light reply, but in a moment another shot was heard, 
and Fred sank down with the exclamation that he was hit.  The brother ran back 
for help, and found Charles Quigg, who went back with him.  Fred tried to 
arise and walk with their help, but could not, and Quigg went after a 
conveyance.  It was perhaps three-quarters of an hour before Robert Patterson 
came with his horse and buggy accompanied by Will Ward.  They placed Bird in 
the buggy and started for his home on Bayard Street, but he died before 
reaching there.

Dr. Ogden was summoned, and meeting Dr. Winchell, both went to the house, 
where Dr. Ogden cut out the ball, which entered the right breast, about two 
inches to the left of the nipple, glanced on a rib and lodged 3 or 4 inches 
below left shoulder blade.  From the irregular course, the doctor is of the 
opinion that the force of the ball was partially spent.  The boys were a short 
distance west of pest house when the shot took effect.  The Shattuck boys with 
several others were nearly a half mile east on railroad, with three guns, 
which they were shooting occasionally. Whether the shot came from them, or 
some other hunting party in the vicinity is not known, but it was doubtless 
accidental, and possibly from a glancing ball.  Fred Bird was 18 or 19 years 
old and is a son of William Bird who died about a month ago.

Coroner Cook was notified and with Officer Ed. Montgomery and a jury, 
comprised of James Hanigan, Frank L. Taylor, Fred Smith, Will Wedge, Ed. Burke 
and Silas Cook, viewed the remains a little after 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon.  
This morning they went over the ground where the shooting took place and 
adjourned to meet at court house at 9 am Wednesday to hear testimony.

Tuesday, 25 October 1904
The funeral of Fred Bird, the victim of the Sunday shooting, took place at 2 
o’clock this afternoon, at the family home. Rev. M. L. Fox officiating.  
Interment, Highland Park.


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