The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-08-01

The Terrible Fate of Willie A. Kuyken-
dall-Dragged to Death by a
Runaway Horse.

funeral procession which followed the
remains of Father Pease to the ceme-
terry had left the grounds On the return
to the city. 1t was one of those terri
bly, sad catastrophes, which, while
overpowering all witnesses by its SUI
preme horror, is yet so sudden in hap
pening that non can fully realize its
awfulness until a sufficient period has
elapsed for the complete recovery of all
the faculties.
Briefly told, the thrilling details are
as follows: just before the funeral
procession formed at the Methodist
church, City Sexton Thorpe was sad
ding a horse at his stable preparatory
to proceeding to the cemetery for the
purpose of opening the gates for the
burial. Master Willie A. Kuykendall,
youngest son Of our former fellow
townsman, Judge W. L. Kuykendall,
was in the stable at the time, and
asked Mr.. Thorpe to allow him to take
the keys and horse and perform the
duty. Thorpe knew the boy to be a
good rider, and therefore granted his
request at once. Mounting the horse,
upon which a mans saddle was placed,
the boy placed his feet in the stirrup
straps, the stirrups being beyond his
reach, and rode out to the cemetery,
where he unlocked the gates, waited
for the procession to pass in and out,
when he again mounted and started for
the city.
The horse broke into a gallop, and
500 jumped a ditch. Seeing that his
foothold was not good, Willie en-
deavored to check the horse at the next
ditch, but was unable to do SO. 1t is
said, however, that a man who stood
ear could have then caught the horse,
but made no effort to do it. Be that
as it may, the horse jumped the second
ditch, near the head Of 21st street,
%unseating Willie. People in the pro-
cession say this, but rs the boy left
their sight he was clinging to the POM
mel and the horses name, and they
thought he would save himself. \
moment later jewellers on 21st street,
heal the school building, were Mortified
at the sight of a runaway horse plung-
ing along the street, with the body Of
the boy hanging head downward, one
foot fast in the stirrup straps, now
dragging on the earth and being kicked
by the horse, then flying into the air
far above the horses back. Everybody
ran to the rescue, but there was no
stopping the thoroughly startled and
maddened steed. Whirling at the cor
ner Of Dodge street the horse dashed
southwark, and at the corner of 18th
the bruised and mangled body fell to
the ground, the foot having loosened
from its cruel Imprisonment.
Rev. J. Y. Cowhick and others We're
close at hand, and poor Willie, almost
unconscious, and moaning pitifully,
was carried to the house of Mr.. Meyer,
and laid upon a sofa on the piazza.
Almost Immediately he Strengthened
out, gave a last agonized gasp, and
expired. Conveyed to his home amid
the heart-rending sobbing and wailing
of his deeply stricken mother, brother,
cousins and friends, the disiguered
remains were tenderly bathed and
cared for.
On the wings Of the lightning the
sad tidings were conveyed to the father,
far away in the land of gold, and while
he was readingthe Shorthand terrible sem
fences telling him of his great bereave-
ment, his home was filled with friends of
the family and playmates of the dead
boy, who gathered by hundredst to express
the intense sorrow with which the sud-
den taking off of Willie had filled them.
Little ones who loved him as a brother
gathered to mingle their tears with
those Of the relatives, and 4 more
touching sight we have never wit
messed.
Willie was the youngest OF three sons,
being but eight years old. Bright,
cheerful and polite, he knew and was
loved by everybody. He was a grace
full and fearless rider.
He was at the church yesterday
morning, and viewed the corpse of
Father Pease. 1t seems that he then
felt some premonition of his W death,
for, unlike children of his age, as he
gazed upon the dead body he leaned his
head upon m hand and sighed deeply,
passing out with downcast eyes and
troubled mien.
The funeral has been postponed to
await the arrival of Judge Kuykendall,
who has telegraphed that he will leave
Deadwood this morning, and will there
fore arrive here Friday morning.
The latest patent is a patent key
hole. There has long been an opening
here for inventive genius. The desid-
eratum of modern domestic life is a
key-hole that will stand still. Many a