PETERSFIELD.]—ALARMING GUN ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday morning Mr. Robert Stevens, of Langrish Farm, Eastmeon, was in the act of rubbing or dusting his gun, which was loaded, and placed the butt on a chair seat, which fell on the floor of the room. The gun instantly exploded, the whole charge passing through his arm, between the wrist and elbow, shattering the arm in a most frightful manner. His skilful medical attendants have, up to the time we are writing, adopted every means to prevent amputation.
Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette - Saturday 05 February 1859
PETERSFIELD
A SAD ACCIDENT occurred Wednesday morning last, to Mr. Robert Stevens, nephew of Mr. Robert Berriman, of Langrish Farm, near this town. Mr. Stevens was wiping his gun, previous to going out shooting, and the stock was resting upon the seat of a chair, from which it unfortunately slipped, and the trigger or hammer coming in contact with something, the gun exploded, its contents passing through the fleshy part of his left arm, and carrying it away with a considerable part of the bone. The arm has not yet been amputated, in consequence of the anxiety of his medical attendants, Messrs. Whicher and Cross, to save it if possible, although there is considerable doubt of it.