William Battcock

Notes:

December 16, 1880 - Carbonear Herald and Outport Telephone

Died at Brigus, from the effects of a shot from a gun, William, youngest son of the late Thomas BATTCOCK.

Rev. M.P. O'Driscoll's Diary (part 2) - December 13th. Monday. (1880)

Cold NW wind. Fr. Battcock passed on to Brigus. Brother to Fr. G, William Battcock, died this morning from the effects of a gun accident."

A TRAGIC DEATH The following two articles from the St. John’s Morning Chronicle give us just about all we know of a terrible accident which occurred in December 1880 probably in the wooded hills between Cape Broyle and Brigus South. The first appears in the paper of Tuesday, December 14:

LOCAL AND OTHER ITEMS

ACCIDENT - On Saturday last an accident of a most melancholy nature happened in Cape Broyle, by which a young man named Badcock, about 18 years of age, received what was feared to be at the time a mortal wound. It appears that the unfortunate man and an elder brother were out shooting when the latter’s gun, in some way unknown at present, was discharged and lodged its contents in the body of the poor fellow, thereby inflicting a wound from which he will in all probability never recover. The general opinion was, when our informant left, that he would not outlive Saturday night.

A follow-up article appeared on Thursday, December 16:

LOCAL AND OTHER ITEMS

Latest news from Cape Broyle confirms our fears as to the fate of the young man Badcock, who was accidently shot by his companion last week - he having died on Saturday evening. We stated in our last issue that the wound was inflicted by his brother’s gun. This statement we have been since informed was inaccurate, the companion of the deceased young man at the time being a cousin, by the name of Gregory. The deceased was much respected on the Southern Shore, and leaves behind him many to mourn his sad and untimely end. He was the brother of the Rev. Father Badcock, who at present officiates at Flowers Cove.