Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1916 — WILLIARD ZEA HAS CLOSE CALL [ARTICLE]

WILLIARD ZEA HAS CLOSE CALL

Hit on Bridge of Nose by Bullet From Air Rifle. Williard Zea, a son of Chester Zea, the city teamster, had a very \ narrow escape from the loss of one' eye Wednesday morning while sweeping the brick alley in the rear of The Democrat office, where he is employed when not in school. His brother. Devere Zea, who is employed at the Barnes bakery, was in the alley some 200 feet east, shooting at sparrows with a B-B air rifle. In some unexplained way a • bullet front the gun struck Willia r d: on the side of the nose, close to the left eye, it apparently having struck him as he was turned sidewise or fronting to the south, and passed out at the top of the bridge, making a very painful wound hi t not necessarily a very serious one. The lad was taken to Dr. Johnson at once and he found that no bones were broken and that the bullet had passed out and not lodged at ! the side of the eyeball as feared at | first. Had the bullet struck a dialfl inch deeper the sight of the lad's

eye would have been destroyed and it might have penetrated his brain. It was a mighty close call indeed, and again emphasizes the fact that the afr rifle should be wholly eliminated from use in the business section of the city at least.