A lamentable disaster overtook a shooting. arty in Castle Peak Bay in the New Territory on Sunday Inst, the 3rd instant, Several midshipmen and a lieutenant belonging to the cruiser Orlando received permission to join picnic party and left in the steanr-launch Olympia on Saturday for Castle Peak Bay, and landed in sampan the next day in search of snipe. The party subsequently separated as the midshipmen did not -wish to overstay their leave, and the four youths decided to return in the launch. Whilst on thole journey to the shore they sat down on the hillside and three of them, who carried fowling-pieces, were. talking when they heard n report. and. on turning to their companion, unmad Evelyn Govett, who had a Mauser revolver-with rifle stock attached, found that he had, inadvertently shot himself. Tt seems the revolver had missed fire, and Govett was, it is conjectured, examining the weapon to ascertain the cause when he must have essed the trigger with his thumb when! looking into the barrel. The bullet passed right through decensed's head making a hole through his hat. The unfortunate middy expired in a few minutes, His companions improvised'n stretcher and carried their comrade down to the shore and steamed back to Hongkong. 'The launch reached Hongkong during: the' afternoon and the body was taken on bourd the Orlando, On the following afternoon: the remains were interred in' the Protestant Cemetery, Wongneichong, with full naval honours, The deceased, who was seventeen yenrs of age; was a promising young officer, Who had just come out a3 passenger in the Orlando to' join the Baiflew. A coroner's inquiry: was opened on the tant, when-the medical evidence (which proved that the revolver shot was the role cause of death) and that of Lieut. Mac-Kenzie and the midshipmen with deceased at the: time of the occurrence, was taken, when it was adjourned. to Tuesday next, to enable' the police to find out: who was sitting next to him. T regret to say thut the poor lad was an only son.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.