Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-09-10
Serious Stage Accident.

On Monday the 1st inst, very serious acct
dent occurred on "Morris HILL" Allegheny
county, occasioned by the running off of the
horses attached to one of Hartman & Browns
coaches, which resulted in the injury, more or
less severe, ofmost of the passengers. The stage
contained, inside, the venerable Judge Fry, OF
Wheeling Mrs. |, II. Patterson of Phila and her
child little boy three years of age; two sons OF
Chas. s. Gay Esq, of Staunton; Mr. Myers, OF Nor
folk, and another gentleman whose name we
did not learn. Mr.. Price, of Richmond, son of
Thos r. Price, was on the outside with the dri-
yer. We learn from one of the passengers that
when the driver commenced descending the hill,
one of the steepest and most frightful between
this place and the White Sulphur, he commenc-
ed whipping the horses, until they got into q
gallon and then found it impossible to manage
them. Perceiving this, he deliberately leaped
from the box, leaving the passengers at the mercy
of the affrighred horses. Before jumping, he told
Mr.. Price to follow his example or he would in
eyitably be killed, which Mr.. P, did in short
time, escaping injury with the exception faslight
ly sprained ANGLE. On the horses dashed and in
short time the coach was capsized and broken
to pieces. The lead horses ran against the bank
on the upper side of the hill with such force
that one of them was killed instantly and the other
so seriously injured that his throat was cut to ter
inmate his suferings. The passengers were ex-
tricated from the wreck by the aid of the pas
sengers in coach that was behind, and assisted
to the Hotel at Jacksous River. LII
Judge Fry was seriously injured, having seve-
raj cuts on his temple and other parts of his head
and for some time was slightly delirious. Mrs
Patterson, who was under the care of Judge Fry,
was severely bruised on her face, head and arms,
but strange to say her little boy who was asleep
in her arms at the time the accident occurred,
escaped with slight scratch on the chin. The
heavy blanket in which the little boy was wrap
ped was cut and torn in a number of places
Mr.. Myers had two of his fingers mashed terri
bly, aud his arm broke. The eldest of Mr.. Gays
sons received a blow on the head which de-
prived him of his senses for some time. The
other passengers escaped without injury. Mr..
Price, Mrs. Patterson, Mr. Gay and those that
were not injured reached Staunton on Wednes-
day night, having left Judge Fry at Wood
wards" and Mr. Myers at the Hot Springs.
We have gathered the above particulars from
one of the passengers, who attributes the acct
dent to the reeklessness and cowardly desertion
of the driver, who several of the passengers con-
cur in stating was under the influence of liquor
Fortunately the coach overturned toward the up
perside of the hin, or the passengers would proba
bly, have been instantly killed. if the horses had
dashed down the precipice. Every one who has
passed over''Morris Hip will consider the es-
cape of the passengers, under all the circumstan-
ces, as one of the most miraculous on record.
We are also informed that after the accident
occurred, a physician was promptly brought to
the aid of the injured passengers, and every at
tention bestowed upon them by the agents of
the Stage Company. .ht