Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1902 — An Ankle Shot Away. [ARTICLE]

An Ankle Shot Away.

A Bad Hunting Accident Monday Afternoon. Jasper county, which haß already added its quota to this season’s shredder aooidents must now reoord its hunting acoident, also. It ooourred Monday afternoon, near the residence of Charles Burbage, on the old Milton Makeever ■ farm in Newton tp., and about 5 miles northwest of Rensselaer The victim was John Stuber, the 19 year old son of Mrs. Kate Young, a widow. Stuber and Nick Young and another young man were out hunting rabbits Young was carry ing his gun under his arm, with the muzzle pointing backward. A rabbit was sighted and Niok made a quick move to bring his gun Into action and it was discharged. The charge passed through Stuber’s left [ankle, at dose range. Practically all the bones of the ankle were shot away and also the lower ends of both the bones of the leg Some of the arteries were severed and the loss of blqod was great. That he did not bleed to death was probably owing to the torn and jagged nature of, the injuries, which would not bleed so freely as a smooth cut. ,The whole charge in compaot form passed through the ankle and came out

at the instep in two large holes. The injured boy was taken to Mr. Burbage’s plaoe and Dr. Berkley telephoned for. He dressed the injuries, and while he thinks he can save the boy’s foot, yet he will be crippled for life, and even worse crippled than if an amputation were performed, just above the wounds, and an artificial foot used after the amputation heals. Tuesday the boy was brought to town, and with his mother, are temporarily living in a small house just north of town, in order that he can be near the physician.