Wounded hunter apologizes for troubles cast on Cheney

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — His face marked with tiny birdshot wounds, the lawyer shot by Vice President Dick Cheney while quail hunting left a hospital Friday, saying "accidents do and will happen" and apologizing for the trouble the incident had caused the vice president.

"My family and I are deeply sorry for everything Vice President Cheney and his family have had to deal with," Harry Whittington said in his first public comments since being shot on a South Texas ranch six days earlier.

The Austin attorney spoke less than 20 minutes before Cheney made his first public appearance since the shooting, receiving a rousing ovation from legislators in his home state of Wyoming.

"It's a wonderful experience to be greeted by such warmth by the leaders of our great state. It's especially true when you've had a very long week," Cheney told lawmakers in Cheyenne.

"Thankfully, Harry Whittington is on the mend and doing very well."

Whittington, 78, was hit in the face, neck and chest with birdshot last Saturday. After a shotgun pellet traveled to his heart, he suffered a mild heart attack Tuesday while being treated at Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Memorial.

Whittington, who did not answer questions after his brief statement, had what appeared to be a line of cuts on his upper right eyelid and scrapes on his neck.

"We all assume certain risks in what we do, in what activities we pursue," Whittington said. "Accidents do and will happen."

He said the past weekend involved "a cloud of misfortune and sadness that is not easy to explain, especially with those who are not familiar with the great sport of quail hunting."

Dr. David Blanchard, the hospital's chief of emergency care, said the attorney was lucky to have survived the shooting.

Whittington was released Friday because of "his excellent health," Blanchard said, but he added that Whittington wasn't answering questions because "he is not 100 percent."

Whittington did feel well enough to crack a joke.

"I also thank all of you for understanding as best you can that medical attention is very important to someone my age — and you haven't failed to give my age," he said, drawing laughs.

He also sent his love and respect to Cheney and his family. "We hope that he will continue to come to Texas and seek the relaxation that he deserves," Whittington said.

Whittington returned to his home in Austin late Friday afternoon.

Cheney took full blame for the shooting in a Wednesday appearance on Fox News, but his comments Friday were focused on reminiscing about Wyoming politicians, including his own time as the state's sole representative in the U.S. House.

"For better than a decade, I proudly answered to the title, 'the gentleman from Wyoming,' " Cheney said.

He also recalled the late Gov. Stan Hathaway, who gave Cheney his first job in politics: as an intern in the Wyoming Legislature in 1965, when Cheney was paid $300 for 40 days work.

Many in Wyoming have stories of their own about a near-death experience while hunting. So while there have been a sprinkling of jokes in Cheyenne bars about the Cheney shooting, they don't see why their favorite son has had to suffer such ignominy.

"I mean, there are leaders in other countries who shoot people intentionally," said Malik Hegge, a contractor. "With all the events going on, can we focus on things that are more important?"

Material from the Los Angeles Times is included in this report.