RAFUSE, Maurice C. - of Upper Vaughan passed away at the Payzant Memorial Hospital, October 21st, at 2:30 Wednesday morning, the victim of a bullet from a careless hunter's gun. The first fatality of the moose hunting season which occurred the day the season opened. In company with his brother Kenneth, and Purvis Bezanson, the deceased set out Tuesday morning to hunt moose. They were walking along a path about three miles back of Lewis Hogan's camp when the discharge of a gun was heard in the distance and a few seconds later Rafuse fell to the ground with a wound in his chest. Almost six miles from Hogan's home, Kenneth and Purvis horrified by the unexpected accident set out to carry him the long distance. Realizing that progress was too slow, Kenneth continued ahead to get aid while Purvis remained at the side of the injured man. When word reached the settlement, a crowd of men went to the place where the wounded man was, they carried him to Hogan's home on a stretcher, and then was brought immediately to the P. M. Hospital. The shock, loss of blood, together with the long drive to hospital, made recovery impossible. The deceased was 36 years old and is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Nellie Smeltzer and one daughter Florine May, who was just one year and a half old the day her dear Daddy was laid to rest. Maurice was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Rafuse, Upper Vaughan. His surviving sisters are: Mrs. Arthur Church (Nina), Mrs. Clark Rafuse (Olive), Upper Vaughan; Mrs. Charles Gullen (Dorothy), Lower Vaughan; Dolly and Lena at home. The brothers are: John, at home; Charles, of Upper Vaughan; Harry, of Ellershouse; and Kenneth of Wilmington, Vermont, USA, who, with his wife and two children are at home on their vacation. The Rev. Gordon McClare, Pastor of Falmouth Baptist Church, conducted the service at the house on Friday afternoon, and was assisted by Adjutant Jennings, Salvation Army. Not half of the friends and neighbours who attended to pay their tribute of respect and sympathy could get inside the house. They stood in the drizzling rain while the service was conducted and then followed the remains to the graveyard at the Baptist Church where they were laid to rest.

October 1936
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