Cudgegong Valley History Project

MUDGEE (From the Mudgee Times , March 16) On Saturday, the 6th instant, an accident occurred at Rylstone, about thirty-five miles distant, which should serve not only as a caution, but as a guide to others who may experience a similar one. It appears from reliable evidence, that David, aged about 15 years, son of Samuel Fenton, farmer, at Camboon, was removing a loaded gun from the floor of a dray which he bad been driving, when the trigger was caught by one of the planks of the floor of the dray, and the gun, which was charged with heavy shot, and pointed towards him, exploded. The injuries the lad received were calculated to be fatal. The shot penetrated just above the left hip, in a line with the false ribs, one of which it carried away. The discharge also inflicted a wound three inches in diameter, and another about one inch in diameter. Dr. Cutting was sent for on the following Monday, and after attending an inquest, he went out and attended the unfortunate youth, who, it appears, had the remarkable presence of mind to press both his hands against the gap in his sides, for a distance of some twenty yards, the blood literally oozing between his fingers. The gun, it appears, was charged with large shot, which went in just over the left hip, in a line with the false ribs. The last account was that on Sunday last the lad was on a fair way to a recovery, which statement will startle some who reported that he was dead (Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Saturday 20 March 1875, p. 8.

Death. A Rylstone Pioneer. The death occurred at Camboon last week of Mr. Stephen Fenton, aged 81 years. Deceased was one of the pioneer settlers of Rylstone, and by thrift and industry did well. He came to Rylstone district from Bathurst side 50 years ago. He married the eldest sister of Messrs. D. and W. Riches. The widow and a family of eight sons and daughters survive. The large and representative gathering at the funeral testified unmistakably to the great respect of the people for deceased. The interment took place at Camboon in a plot on Mr. Robert Riches' property (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 2 November 1914, p. 1).

GENERAL ITEMS. I regret to report the death of Mr. Fenton, an old resident of Camboon, which took place on Friday from influenza and bronchitis. The remains were interred at Camboon on Sundav (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 22 October 1914, p. 12 ).