'Russian Roulette'
Proves Fatal For
Forks Resident

   "A Russian Roulette" game Saturday night in Forks ended Sunday night in a Seattle hospital with Harry Bowechops Jr.,30, La Push, dying of a gunshot wound.
   Sheriff James -W. Morse reported Bowechops died shortly before midnight after ah emergency ambulance trip from the hospital here to 'Seattle. Investigation by Deputy Sheriffs Bert Pitts and Robert Ellis revealed the victim died from a self inflicted .22' caliber bullet wound.
   According to Deputy Pitts the incident occurred about one-quarter mile south 'of Forks.on Bogachiel Way about 11:30 Saturday night. : Bowechops. went into the home of Ernest .Dalhgren where the shooting 'took place. Bowechops walked in and. took a .38 caliber revolver chambered for a .22 caliber bullet off the wall. Deputy Pitts said, Bowechops put in one round in 'the. revolver and said,
Let's play Russian Roulette."
   Dahlgren attempted to stop Bowechops as the latter raised the. pistol to his right temple, Before Dalhgren could stop Bowechops, the revolver went off,
   The deputies arrived at the house about 11:45, Bowechops was still' conscious and sitting on ,a couch, He recognized Ellis and muttered, "Russian Roulette,"
   The Forks Ambulance, driven by Thomas Mansfield, Forks postmaster, and Ellis, drove through a snowstorm' early Sunday morning to Port Angeles,
   The victim went into surgery immediately at the Olympic Memorial Hospital, With his condition critical, Bowechops remained. in surgery several hours Sunday morning,
  About 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Bowechops was taken by ambulance to the Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Sheriff Morse disclosed no foul play In Boechops' death,
   Preliminary investigation by Deputy Pitts verified the incident, statements 'taken from Mr, and Mrs. Dahlgren. and a Rosetta Charles, who were in the house, substantiated the "Russian Roulette" incident,
   The body is at the Harper Home where final will be announced,

[courtesy of "Leslie T"]

Grave marker for Harry Bowechops (native spelling Bowechup), Jr. in Neah Bay Cemetery, Neah Bay (Clallam county), Washington,

A member of the Quinaielt-Makah (Makah) Tribe, Harry grew up on the Quinaielt Reservation, Taholah Indian Agency.

Harry registered for the draft in Port Angeles, WA on 14 June 1943 .

On 19 October 1945, Pvt Bowechops was transferred from the 101st Airborne Division to Company I,m 508th PIR.