Nat S. BAILEY

January 24, 1892 - October 8, 1904
Son of WP & Sarah S Bailey

*Obituary
Rogers Democrat
Wednesday, October 12, 1904

BAILEY, Nat - Nat Bailey, the twelve year old son of Mrs. Sarah Bailey, was accidentally killed last Saturday morning while hunting squirrels near the old Pump Spring just east of town. In company with three young companions, James Storer, Oscar Hall and Raymond Oakley, he was trying to get a squirrel from under a fallen log when he dropped a heavy stick on the gun which was cocked and laying across the log and it was discharged. The gun was a 22 caliber and the bullet struck young Bailey about two inches to the left of the right nipple. Death was almost instantaneous. A jury was impaneled by Justice Breeze and the inquest was held at the Bailey home Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Bailey wishing to hear the testimony. The jury returned a verdict of accidental shooting, caused by his own act. All three of the boys who were with Bailey when he was shot were called before the jury and told substantially the same story. All of the boys were digging around the log when the rifle was discharged and none saw the fatal shot fired but all three saw the gun drop off the log and saw Bailey fall. The gun was said to be "very easy on the trigger" and had gone off some time earlier while one of the boys was carrying it. The log was about two feet through and as young Bailey was stooping forward when the gun was discharged it was just the right height to strike him in a vital spot. The only words he uttered were as he fell when he cried, "My God, I am shot." He did not suffer, the boys testified, and smiled so they thought he was joking. One of the boys went at once for help but death resulted before any one arrived. It was young Bailey's own gun that killed him. He had been using a light shot gun and had loaned the old gun to one of the boys. His death was the result of leaving the gun cocked in so dangerous a position and no blame can be attached to anyone in particular. The deceased was a bright, manly young fellow, popular with his friends and schoolmates and the idol of his mother and sister, upon whom his death falls as a crushing blow. So sudden and untimely, it was like a thunderbolt from the clear sky. They have the deepest sympathy of the entire community. Funeral services were held at the residence Sunday afternoon at three o'clock and were conducted by Rev. Duggins of the C.P. church of which the deceased was a member, having joined last winter. Nearly one hundred boys were present at the funeral and many accompanied the body to its final resting place where they filed past the grave, each casting a tiny sprig of evergreen upon the lowered casket.

Contributed on 4/14/12 by wfields55
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Record #: 676779

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