A DALTON man was shot by his dog in 1872 and died a few days later.
The February 24 edition of the Barrow, Furness and North-Western Daily Times described the bizarre accident.
It noted that Peter Sanderson was a worker for the ironmonger, Mr Nelson.
Sanderson took the shop’s double-barrelled shotgun into a garden behind the premises to shoot at small birds.
He drew back both triggers and placed the gun against a wall while he climbed over it.
The report said: “When he was in the act of getting over, the dog jumped up after him and against the gun.”
One of the barrels went off, injuring Sanderson’s right hand.
Sanderson, of Market Street, was aged 25 and died from blood poisoning a few days later – leaving a wife and two children.
A verdict of accidental death was returned at an inquest held in the Wellington Hotel, Dalton.
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