The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-17 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENT.

On Saturday night two men met with a sudden
death, a short distance beyond Musselburgh. John
M‘Pherson, drayman in the service of Messrs.
Campbell and Co. brewers, Cowgate, set out with
two loaded drays, to supply their customers in that
quarter. When on his return home, he fell in with
David Archibald and Geo. Kedzlie, fleshers, belong-
ing to Fisherrow, who had been travelling the country
in search of calves, and, being quite exhausted, Mac-
Pherson accommodated therm with a ride in one of
the drays. When between Tranent and Mussel-
burgh, one of the horses, a young, high-spirited
animal, was started by a collision with a carrier's
cart, arid was only restrained from running off, by
the coolness and resolution of M'Pherson. In order
to secure him properly, he took off a pair of
strong double reins from the fore horse, on which
he put great dependance, and put them on the
other, to have him completely under controid.
Shortly afterwards, alarmed by one of the fleshers'
dogs, when near Walleyford Toll bar, both homes
set off, down hill, at full gallop. On finding it was
impossible to command the terrified horses, the
whole three leapt from the cart, arid all of them fell.
One of the wheels went over MPlierson's head, and
idlled him on the spot. Another vheei passed over
the head and body of Archibald, and he started up,
staggered instinctively to the side of the road, where
he was found lying a few minutes afterwards, his
head resting on tu's hand, and quite dead. Kedzlie
was more fortunate. A. wheel passed over one
of his arms, which was seocerely fractured, but
it was soon set, and yesterday fOreaoon he was in
a fair way of recovery. David Archibald Iws left
a widow and four children to lament his death.
M'Pherson was a sober, steady, industrious man.
He had been in the brewery t'or a number of years,
and was much respected not ogly by
his employers,
hut also by all their customers with whom hi: busi-
ness brought him in contact. He has left 4 w;dow
and three children. Too much praise cannot be
given to Mr. Alexander Lees, merchant in Fisher-
row, for his exertions, and the humanity he displayed
on the occasion.

There is a jackdaw d.orniciliated at the Rise-
holm Lodge, near Lincoln, whose sagacity has made him
a favourite of the family to which he belongs, and, in the,
wo,ds of our informant, " he is so learned i' faith," that
he can tea as much as forty folk together—he barks with
the dog, cackles im unison with the hen, gobbles with the
turkey, whistles and se,-.-eAms with the children, and offends
eyen the very donkey by his inißickry. As jack was display-
ing his ye:satile talent, in front of tinekodge, and amusing
himself in the sioh;hine, a few days ago, espz,iei7lly by dis-
torting the shimbers fan old sow that lay backipg,
the dame of the house was aurprised by hearing a loud
fracas, anti ii&Kisual chino*, ba which jack's voice'
was uppermost, as if in violent contest with some
intruder; on hastening to the rescue, the woman
((mind that a fine hawk, perhaps in emulation of the Grap,al
F.ilesAaer's, ;had pounced, "in one fell swoop," upon poor
jack, probably with the intention of carrying him away—
the sow, litter, and all. This bold and nefarious attempt,
however, to sport without license, met with its just retalia-
lion from the hold jackdaw, Wm gallantly seized his anta-
gonist, and held him fast, until the hawk was captured by
the mistress, who bore off her prize amidst the triumphant
"caws" pf her sable favcurite,Poton Gazette,