Thursday 1st August 1889
From the Warminster And West Wilts Herald, Saturday 3rd August 1889:
Pistol Accident Near The Reservoir At Botany
Serious Accident. On Thursday afternoon [1st August 1889] a serious accident occurred to a boy named Arthur Holloway, eleven years of age, living at the Common. It appears another lad named Marsh was engaged in scaring birds from a wheat field near the reservoir at Botany, Holloway being in his company. To assist him in his work, Marsh had an old pistol in his possession and had just loaded it with the usual powder and shot, when, by accident, the pistol was discharged, the shot entering Holloway’s side just below the heart, causing him to immediately fall to the ground. Some men who were at work in an adjoining field were immediately called, and obtained Mr. Payne’s cart and at once conveyed Holloway to the Hospital, where he lies in a very dangerous condition.