On Sunday afternoon a gentleman was here trying out a flintlock Lyman Trade Rifle for the first time. He had fired off two shots when the third failed to ignite. He then recharged the pan three times with no success and decided that he must of failed to put in the powder in his excitement. After the third try he picked up his goods and headed back to his car with the rifle in one hand when it discharged. The ball hit the tailgate of a pickup that had just pulled up to the barn with three people in the cab and if the muzzle of the gun had been an inch higher one of the passengers of the truck could have been killed. I have witnessed several hang-fires, it has never happened to me, but never one of about five minutes. I didn't know it could happen nor do any of the guys who shoot here.

The indecent shook the man up so much that he gave me the gun, powder, balls, patches, powder measure along with a beautiful powder horn and said from now on he is going to stick to in-lines. I offered to pay him for the gun but he said that he hopes that he never sees it again.