The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-31
Violent Death of Little Bessie Lord

Violent Death of Little Bessie Lord.
The deepest gloom has pervaded our en-
tire community since Thursday last, in
consequence of shocking and fatal acct
dent which occurred ms the Rev. DR.. Lord
and little Bessie were returning from a
short drive into the country. In the fore
noon of that day, with the horse and buggy
of his neighbor and friend, Rev. c. S.
Smith, Mr.. Lord, accompanied by Charlie
and Bessie. aged eight and five, respec-
lively, went to the farmhouse of Mr. Will
liam Maloy, in the "Horn of the Moon"
neighborhood, overlooking Wright's mills
on the east. for the purpose OF leaving
Charlie to spend few days at the farm
with daughter of Mr.. Maloy, who had
for many years been an inmate of the doc
tors family. Returning, a littleplst noon,
as they came down the rough and almost
prccipitous road leading Wright's mills, and
some thirty rods above the house of Mr..
James Thayer, the horse, without sign Of
warning, or any perceplible cause, COM
lneHCSu hiNNhiS anu iu'hiiit5 'iOioi'''I
down the hill. Mr.. Lord gathered up
the reins, and exerted himself to the ut
most to bring the frantic animal under con
troll but as the carriage careened from side
to side of the stony and narrow way, he
was thrown to the ground, falling upon
his side, and was dragged for some rods
the bottom of the carriage for safety. By
| almost superhuman exertious, and by tho
| force of that indomitable will and physical
| power with which Mr.. Lord is so well en-
| lowed, the horse was finally reined up be-
| side the road ands brought under control.
| AS he recovered his upright position, and
came into the sight of the frightened little
| girls he looked appealingly at him, and
| cried out ''save me, papa" The tender
instincts of the father led him in that criti-
| cal moment to loosen the Teins, with one
hand and reach out to lift little Bessie from
the carriage. AS the frenzied horse felt the
slight easement upon the reins he started
with fresh violence, drawing the relns
through the remaining hand OF the driver,
| and the frame work of the seat catching the
child out of her fathers hand, thus retain
ing her in the carriage, AS the now unchecked
horse pnnnged violently down the hill. AT
the house of Mr.. Thayer, some twenty rods
or more distant, there occurs an abrupt
turn in the road, which the horse, at his
rate of speed, was unable to make; so he
dashed over pile of timber and stone
wall, down an embankment, into the open
meadow below-the carriage upsetting, as
the fearful plunge was made, and dashng
little Bessie. with great violence, to the
earth, amid the coarse rubbish of the place.
A moment sufliced to raise the little suffer
err, and bear her to the hospitable house of
| r,Is sfa
but hardly was this accomplished before
the frantic father appeared upon the scene,
and took in all its terrible significance at a
glance. Drs. Woodward and Macomber
were speedily summoned, together with
other members of the family-Mrs. Lord
being absent at Hanover, in attendance up
on sick daughter. Many other sympa-
| thizing friends repaired to the scene, and
all that human skill and sympathy could af-
ford was at hand, but, alas, how powerless
are they all in the presence of death
The accident occurred at about half-past
twelve. The little sufferer fingered, doubt
less in an entirely unconscious state, though
more or less sensitive to the efforts of the
physicians, until four o'clock. when she
finally ceased to breathe. The injuries
were pronounced fatal from the first
very little pulse having been discovered
except such as was produced by stimulat
ing applications. The skull was found &c
be broken into several pieces, the lower
Jaw broken upon both sides, terrible
wound upon the back of the head. with
several other contusions about the head face
and upper portions of the body. With the
little frame so crushed and mangled, il
could but be happy release when hel
sufferings were ended.
Just how the injuries were inflicted ever
the eye-witnesses are by no means positive
and hardly agree in opinion. Mr.. Thayer
who saw it all, thinks the heels of the horst
came in contact with the child's head as he
made his final plunge over the wall; others
that the wheel struck the back of the head
forcing the skull with fatal violence agans
the earth, timber or stones. 1t all benl
the work off an instant and that instant 81
CROW ded with peril, no human eye coul(
take it in or tongue describe it.
When all was over, the liteless little form
was laid in the bosom of the brokcn-heaIt tee
father, and tendeIly borne to his desOlatet
home May God in his infinite mercy saw,
us from ever witnessing another such sigh
or scene But where was the mOther-sh'
whose presence in that fearful hour wal
second in importance only to that of thu
Divine Comforter? Far away, and preclu
ded from reaching home, by regular train
until the next day. This fact being brough
to the knowledge of Governor Smith, with
out moments hesitation, and with a con
siderate tenderness that will never be for
gotten by this people, he ordered he
brought by special train from White
River Junction-which was done in LITTLE
more than an hour and half running time
reaching here at nine o'clock. Here let VI
draw the curtain upon scene and griet
which no stranger can fathom
Saturday morning, loving friends gather
ed to commit to the dust the earthly re
mains of little Bessie-the pet lamb of III,
flock, and great favorite with all who
knew her, Touched with the radiance o
Immortality. she was even more beautiful
than in life and her little casket was buried
in the choicest flowers which nature ant
the hand of human affection could provide
Again the tender arms of father and broth