Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 23 September 1892

The Sad Shooting Accident at Mexborough.

Critical Condition of The Sufferer.

The shooting accident at Mexborough on Thursday night, briefly referred to in our last edition, was of a very serious character.

It appears that the party from Melton Hall consisted of the tutor. Mr. Goulding, who now lies in a critical condition; a gamekeeper, the butler, named Beard, and a boy. While engaged shooting pheasants, the party was but a short distance from the residence of County Councillor Watson, in one of the fields.

It is stated that the Butler, who was the cause of the lamentable accident, was directing his gun at a partridge, as the bird passed across the field, and that, when he discharged the gun, it was immediately in a line with where Mr. Goulding was standing. It is most unfortunate that the butler did not notice this. After the shot, it is said, Mr. Goulding was seen to walk a few paces then drop his gun and fall. The supposition was for a while that he had caught his foot in some obstruction and stumbled. But, when the butler got up to him, the gentleman was found to be in a most pitiable condition, and blood was flowing copiously from wounds in the face and neck.

The distance between Mr. Goulding and the butler at the time the gun was discharged, is said to have been only about 20 yards, and the injured man must have received the whole of the pellets in his face, arms, and body. At the time of the accident there was a spectator named Ford, who is employed as a private policeman to superintend the gardens and fields in the neighbourhood, and he at once ran off to where he knew Mr Dykes (farmer, and member of the Mexborough Local Board) was engaged in a field. Mr. Dykes, who has gained some proficiency in ambulance work, hurried to the spot. He found that Mr. Goulding had lost a considerable quantity of blood, and that in consequence he was very weak. He, fortunately, succeeded in bandaging the wounds so effectively as to stop the bleeding. Mr. Dykes examined the gentleman’s chest and arms, but although it was obvious the flesh had been pierced in many places, still these wounds were not bleeding. However, the sufferer was so badly injured that Mr. Dykes said he should not have been surprised if the wounds had proved fatal, especially considering the member of pellets that entered the eyes and neck.

A messenger speedily arrived at Mexborough, where the nearest medical officer was to be found, and Dr. Twigg (medical officer to the Local Board) immediately drove over to Melton Hall where the sufferer bad been taken. He complemented Mr. Dykes on the admirable way in which he had performed the first aid. The doctor remained with the patient the whole of the night, the serious condition in which he had found and on Friday afternoon it was found desirable for him to hold a consultation with Doctor Teale, a well-known Leeds medical gentleman.

Mr. Goulding is said to be going on as satisfactory as can be expected under the circumstances. The only danger he is in is the prospective loss of the site of his left eye, which will be a serious matter for him, as he naturally depends a deal upon his vision in conducting his professional duties. It should be stated that the right uninjured eye is a very weak one.

Mr Andrew Montagu, of Ingmanthorpe Hall, near York, brother of the late Mr James Montagu, of Melton Hall, is taking a deep interest in the affair.