March 21, 1849
There's no source given for this article, and it was before the The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald appeared.
A party of gentlemen went to the Horse Island at Ardrossan, on a shooting excursion, and fired at the Beacon Tower as a mark. Some boys went with the party; and though cautioned to keep out of harm's way, one of them got into the tower. When the company were about to embark, this boy was missed; he was found in the tower, mortally wounded, a bullet having passed through a two-inch board and struck him in the head.