Thursday, June 21, 2012

1896 Colt Accident

In this continuing epilogue of activities in the late 1800s, I am going to reprint articles published in the local papers and offer up additional information.  If there is an era you are interested, please let me know.  I have thousands of digital pictures of the microfilm at the Howell library that I would be happy to post here.

Following show some of the hazards of a Sunday drive in the late 1800s!

F.E. Chapman and wife started to visit his parents, in Conway, on Sunday morning with a pair of colts.  When near the bridge near the saw mill in this village, Mrs. Chapman became very much frightened and Mr. Chapman started to turn around and in doing so, the buggy pole broke and, of course, left him almost helpless so far as controlling the team was concerned. 

They started to run and when near the crossing of Grand River street, the pole struck the walk throwing them out with fearful force, Mrs. Chapman striking the hard street on her face, bruising it in a fearful manner and fairly grinding the gravel into the flesh.  She was picked up and taken to the Commercial Hotel and several physicians called.  She was soon restored to consciousness and, after a time, was taken home on a cot. 

This is the fourth time she has been badly injured by being thrown from a carriage by frightened horses.  Mr. Chapman was more fortunate and was only slightly injured.  A carriage owned by J. Scollon, standing in the street, was run over and smashed by the colts.

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