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Show DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN SMITHFIELD. Editor Leader: - On Tuesday, the 12th inst. (instant), the following accident occurred: John Thornly, son of Bro. (Brother) Robert Thornly, a citizen much respected here, having come from the canyon with a load of logs, unloaded the same upon his father's premises. He then passed out of the lot to get to the corral, sitting upon the front gearing of the wagon. In doing so, upon passing over a small but abrupt ditch, the coupling pin jolted out, releasing, at the same time, the hind wheels from the reach, which was instantly thrown over and forward. By this movement the young man was thrown upon the doubletrees and there held fast. Having the left rein set in his grasp, he directed the team, which was running and kicking, toward the shed, in hope of stopping them. In this attempt a shed post was struck so violently as to pull it from under the shed which it supported, causing the shed to fall at that point. This was about ten rods from the point of the coupling of the wagon, and here Bro. (Brother) John was deprived of consciousness. The team now passed the shed to the street, where, after turning westward, they were met by a Bro. (Brother) Hansen. He, seeing it was a runaway, turned them toward the garden fence. After they had proceeded a short distance upon the sidewalk young Thornly, who it would seem had been dragging the upper part of his body upon the ground from the time of the collision with the shed, became disengaged from his perilous position, and was left upon the ground nearly in front of his father's front door. Meanwhile Sister Thornly having observed the horses running had gone out to endeavor to stop them but hearing groans she directed her steps in the direction thereof. She found her son laying in a heavy pool of blood, face downward. Of course he was quickly taken into the house, and properly cared for. On examination it was found that nose, eyes, mouth and face generally, as also the whole body, more or less, were badly bruised, but particularly the back and shoulders; two teeth were knocked out, and a severe wound inflicted upon the right hip and another upon the right thigh. This last was the worst of all, having the appearance of a stab from the sharp point of a pole or slab. At first it was feared the eyesight was injured, but happily, it proved otherwise. I take pleasure in stating that at the time I sought an interview to obtain the facts I have written, Bro. (Brother) John was progressing towards recovery. The young man meets the general character of a steady and worthy citizen. The team, by a varying route, ran some two miles down the creek, where they were headed into a bend of the creek and caught by Bros. (Brothers) Jos. (Joseph) and Henry Watts, and the latter's son. It was returned home through the kindness of Bro. (Brother) Thos. (Thomas) Mather. There have been quite a number of accidents of different kinds in Smithfield during the past season, several of which resulted from the handling of horses. How for carelessness may have been connected with these issues, I am not prepared to state. But wisdom should be exercised and rashness avoided in all our actions. Our bodily and mental powers are given us by the beneficent Father to further his purposes and to glorify His name, and in this view we are each of us responsible for their proper preservation. Respectfully, A. P. Welchman, Smithfield, July 18, 1881. |