By the accidental discharge of a shotgun, held in the hands of the older, Robert Slater, son of George Slater, one of the deceased pioneers of the county, was instantly killed Monday morning at 5:30 o'clock at the family home near the county poor farm. The news of the tragedy comes as a shock to the many friends and of the family throughout the county. Shortly after sunrise Robert and George Slater, accompanied by Elwyn Shields, a Ferndale boy, prepared to go out into the fields hunting. All three went to the barn, where the guns had been placed in the granary the night before. Robert, the youngest of the brothers, drew his gun out first and was standing with his back to the granary. George, the older brother, started to draw his gun out of the box, when the trigger caught in some unknown way and the weapon was discharged. The contents of the barrel struck Robert in the back of the head, tearing away part of his skull and causing instant death. The guns had been heedlessly (sic) loaded the night before. The boys had planned some early shooting this morning, before the time for leaving for school at Ferndale. Conscious of the unintentional part he played in [this] horrible tragedy, George, the older brother, is grief-stricken and cannot be consoled. After the accidental shooting the coroner was notified and investigated later in the morning.
Robby Slater, as he was known to his playmates, would have been 15 years of age on Thursday of this week. His brother, George, is 17 years old. The two lads were in the prime of health, were happy companions growing up into strong men. Robby last week entered the first year of High School in Ferndale. The boys are nephews of Tom, Henry and John Slater, all prominent citizens of the county. Tom Slater is now Bellingham's street commissioner. The father of the two boys is dead and the mother is now Mrs. F. W. Mitchell. It was at the Mitchell home that the tragedy occurred early last Monday morning. The funeral was held at the family residence one-half mile west of the Poor Farm, at 10 o'clock Wednesday forenoon, and although the morning was very rainy and stormy, the rooms of the residence were filled with the relatives, friends and schoolmates of the deceased, who had come to pay their last respect, for Robby was loved by all who knew him, and he had hosts of friends. The Casket and the room were banked with wreaths and bunches of flowers brought by sympathetic friends, among which was a wreath tied with the High School colors and sent by his fellow students in Ferndale High School.
Robby Slater, as he was known to his playmates, would have been 15 years of age on Thursday of this week. His brother, George, is 17 years old. The two lads were in the prime of health, were happy companions growing up into strong men. Robby last week entered the first year of High School in Ferndale. The boys are nephews of Tom, Henry and John Slater, all prominent citizens of the county. Tom Slater is now Bellingham's street commissioner. The father of the two boys is dead and the mother is now Mrs. F. W. Mitchell. It was at the Mitchell home that the tragedy occurred early last Monday morning. The funeral was held at the family residence one-half mile west of the Poor Farm, at 10 o'clock Wednesday forenoon, and although the morning was very rainy and stormy, the rooms of the residence were filled with the relatives, friends and schoolmates of the deceased, who had come to pay their last respect, for Robby was loved by all who knew him, and he had hosts of friends. The Casket and the room were banked with wreaths and bunches of flowers brought by sympathetic friends, among which was a wreath tied with the High School colors and sent by his fellow students in Ferndale High School.
By the accidental discharge of a shotgun, held in the hands of the older, Robert Slater, son of George Slater, one of the deceased pioneers of the county, was instantly killed Monday morning at 5:30 o'clock at the family home near the county poor farm. The news of the tragedy comes as a shock to the many friends and of the family throughout the county. Shortly after sunrise Robert and George Slater, accompanied by Elwyn Shields, a Ferndale boy, prepared to go out into the fields hunting. All three went to the barn, where the guns had been placed in the granary the night before. Robert, the youngest of the brothers, drew his gun out first and was standing with his back to the granary. George, the older brother, started to draw his gun out of the box, when the trigger caught in some unknown way and the weapon was discharged. The contents of the barrel struck Robert in the back of the head, tearing away part of his skull and causing instant death. The guns had been heedlessly (sic) loaded the night before. The boys had planned some early shooting this morning, before the time for leaving for school at Ferndale. Conscious of the unintentional part he played in [this] horrible tragedy, George, the older brother, is grief-stricken and cannot be consoled. After the accidental shooting the coroner was notified and investigated later in the morning.
Robby Slater, as he was known to his playmates, would have been 15 years of age on Thursday of this week. His brother, George, is 17 years old. The two lads were in the prime of health, were happy companions growing up into strong men. Robby last week entered the first year of High School in Ferndale. The boys are nephews of Tom, Henry and John Slater, all prominent citizens of the county. Tom Slater is now Bellingham's street commissioner. The father of the two boys is dead and the mother is now Mrs. F. W. Mitchell. It was at the Mitchell home that the tragedy occurred early last Monday morning. The funeral was held at the family residence one-half mile west of the Poor Farm, at 10 o'clock Wednesday forenoon, and although the morning was very rainy and stormy, the rooms of the residence were filled with the relatives, friends and schoolmates of the deceased, who had come to pay their last respect, for Robby was loved by all who knew him, and he had hosts of friends. The Casket and the room were banked with wreaths and bunches of flowers brought by sympathetic friends, among which was a wreath tied with the High School colors and sent by his fellow students in Ferndale High School.
Robby Slater, as he was known to his playmates, would have been 15 years of age on Thursday of this week. His brother, George, is 17 years old. The two lads were in the prime of health, were happy companions growing up into strong men. Robby last week entered the first year of High School in Ferndale. The boys are nephews of Tom, Henry and John Slater, all prominent citizens of the county. Tom Slater is now Bellingham's street commissioner. The father of the two boys is dead and the mother is now Mrs. F. W. Mitchell. It was at the Mitchell home that the tragedy occurred early last Monday morning. The funeral was held at the family residence one-half mile west of the Poor Farm, at 10 o'clock Wednesday forenoon, and although the morning was very rainy and stormy, the rooms of the residence were filled with the relatives, friends and schoolmates of the deceased, who had come to pay their last respect, for Robby was loved by all who knew him, and he had hosts of friends. The Casket and the room were banked with wreaths and bunches of flowers brought by sympathetic friends, among which was a wreath tied with the High School colors and sent by his fellow students in Ferndale High School.
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aged 14
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