Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1909 — Little “Billy” Grant Has A Rather Close Call. [ARTICLE]

Little “Billy” Grant Has A Rather Close Call.

Of the well known little chaps about town, that the public admires probably none is more interesting than “Billy” Grant, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Van Grant, who is about two years old. The community Was greatly shocked therefore, on Saturday evening to learn that he was injured by being struck in the face by a shell from a cartridge. The boy’s father had been using a 22 caliber rifle and a shell had failed to discharge and refused to be ejected. Van was trying to withdraw it with the use of a knife, being careful that the muzzle of the rifle was pointed in safe territory, when it Was discharged. The bullet passed into the barrel of the gun and lodged there, but the shell went out backward and struck “Billy” in the left cheek, passing through the flesh and embedding itself in the muscles in front of the ear. The family physician was called and the shell wait removed by probing into the wound, which was about an inch and a half deep. He proved not to be very seriously injured, dhd unless infection ensues he will probably get along all right.