- REF: Shawville Equity-Sept 8 1892 Edition Miss A. Prendergast of Eganville, who has been visiting friends around here left for home on Friday. REF: Shawville Equity-Edition Nov.9, 1894 "From the Eganville Enterprise we learn the facts of a very distressing accident which occurred on Sunday, the 23rd ult., whereby Adeline, the eldest daughter of Mrs. Wm. Prendergast, of Mink Lake, Ont., lost her life.
It appears that the family went to Eganville to attend services (church) and left the deceased to mind the house and prepare dinner. A few minutes to 12 o'clock a gun that was heavily loaded with shot, which was standing in the corner of one of the rooms, fell down, and while in the act of replacing it the gun went off, the charge entering her body a little below the ribs to the left of the stomach. When the family returned shortly afterwards the unfortunate young lady was seated in the rocking chair, her blood rapidly ebbing away. A doctor was immediately sent for, but everything that could be done to relieve the victim proved of no avail and she passed away about 5 hours after the accident. Deceased was 23 years of age.
She was well known in this section and was a niece of Messers. James, Thomas, and John Prendergast, of Clarendon.
REF: Eganville Enterprise A FATAL ACCIDENT- To One of Mink Lake's Most Popular Young Ladies One of those distressing accidents, which cast a gloom over the entire community, took place at Mink Lake on Sunday last at a few minutes before noon, by which a bright and popular young lady- the eldest daughter of Mrs. William. Prendergast -lost her life. It appears the family went to Eganville to attend services (church). Adeline, the eldest daughter, stopping at home to mind the house and prepare dinner. A gun which was heavily loaded with shot, which was standing in a corner of one of the rooms, by some means fell down. While Miss Prendergast was attempting to replace the gun it went off, the charge striking her a little below the ribs and to the left of the stomach, passing upwards and towards the left side. When the family returned from church, about forty minutes after the accident occurred, a shocking sight greeted them; their daughter and sister, whom they had left a few hours before the picture of health, sat in the rocking chair, and her life blood rapidly ebbing away-forming streams and pools upon the f oor. A doctor was immediately sent for and everything that medical skill could desire was done to alleviate her suffering, but all in vain. From the first it was seen that there was no hope, and the family were told to prepare for the worst. Although suffering untold agonies , her mind was clear until about half past four in the afternoon when she became unconscious ; death ensuing some fifteen minutes later. The deceased young lady was 23 years of age. and was very popular among her friends and acquaintances and her tragic death will long be remembered in this section. Mrs. Pendergast and the surviving members of the family have the heartfelt sympathy of all in this their hour of terrible affliction. The funeral takes place on Tuesday (today) at 2 o'clock p.m. from her mother's residence to St. John's church and cemetery.
(**Over the years, the family has hypothesized that the gunshot wound was self inflicted, because she was pregnant and unmarried.)
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