Provided you amended it to "...scattering its contents", I would accept the first.
If, however, you wished to retain a true absolute construction, you might say e.g. 'its contents spilling all over...'.
As regards the second, obviously it is grammatically possible and meaningful (although not particularly natural).
absolute constructs
Moderator: Alan
- Alan
- Teacher/Moderator
- Posts: 15257
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:56 pm
- Status: Teacher of English
- Location: Japan