Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-02-14

A FEARFUL OCCAsIoN.-Wedne
morning January 2sth, man by the
name of Keys, was employed with his
shelter, Smelling corn for Mr.. Griggs
Ruckles, in his barn eight miles north
west of this city, on the Lexington
Branch road. Mr.. Ruc&les and his son
Everett were assisting at the work, q
Mr.. Yokely was feeding the shelter,
and his brother was mounted on plat
form placed on the horse power, where
he drove the eight horses which furnish
ed the motive power and worked around
in a circle Everything was under full
Roadway when the Lexington Branch
accommodation train, from the north,
passed by the barn about 9 o'clock yes
terday morning, when the horses at
tachcd to the machinery became fright
ened at the train and broke into dead
run around thecircle.
The widest scene imaginable then
ensued, and every man in the barn was
placed in imminent danger. The in
creased speed of the maddened horses
caused the machinery TO run at a terri
BILE "elocity, such as no machinery could
stand long. 1t was impossible to stop
the horses which seemed to be possessed
OF the devil, the shelter could not be
thrown out Of gear nor could any brake
be placed upon it.
After the horses had run several min
utes at the top of their speed there was
a terrible explosion which sounded like
the discharge of twenty pound gun,
the barn was filled with dirt and flying
misiles one man lay groaniug upon the
floor, the horses seemed worse scared
than ever and the barn seemed to be
converted iuto perfect pandemonium.
The cylinder of the shelter had bursted
into thousand fragments!
The pieces of the bursted cylinder
were hurled upwards and forward. Mr..
Rucklcs and his SOB Everett were
standing in front of the shelter. Strange
to say the elder Mr.. Ruckles escaped
injury, but his son Everett, a young
man of twenty was not so fortunate,
he was struck by pieces of the eXplo
ded cylinder and was felled to the floor
like struck beef Mr.. Yokely who
was feeding the shelter also met with
miraculous escape. The other Mr.
Yokely, though out of range of the
deadly missiles was in danger equally
as great, for the frenzied horses were
rushing around him with The speed Of
the wind and there was no chance of
escape. The beams to which the horses
were attached revolved around him Ike
the spokes in fast driven buggy. For
tunately he retained his presence of
mind and though rendered dizzy by his
position he staid at his post. 1t was
well he did for if he had jumped off he
would have been instantly killed.
Finally an iron pin which secured the
double-trees to which one span Of
horses was attached, gave way in such
manner as to disengage two of the
horses. This had the effect Of checking
the speed, somewhat, of the other horses,
and at the same time afforded the driver
chance of escape He lost no time in
taking advantage of the opportunity
and Jumped in such way as to run with
the horses until he could pass out at
the place abandoned by the detached
span.
The horses ran twenty minutes before
they could be stopped.
Fortunately Dr. r. Z. Staples, of Sa-
line county, happened to be visiting Mr.
Ruckles, and the wounded young man
received the attent ion of the Doctor at
once. The worst wound was found on
the young mans shoulder and was
dressed by the Doctor. He complained
Of great pains in bis side and it is pos
sible that some of his ribs were also bro
ken, hut the Doctor hardly thinks such
tue case. 1t is more probable be has
received internal injuries.
The shelter which is the property of
Mr.. Keys, is badly wrecked. The run
away horses did not receive scratch
SedaiiQ, No., Democrat.
The Harpers Ferry Government