The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-10-13

PRoF. A. L. PURINToN MEETS WITH
AN AceIDENT--HIs HORSE Runs AWAY.
The Parkersburg Journal OF last
Thursday says:
While Supt. A. L. Purinton was
riding in carriage en- Wednesday,
on his way to visit one of the schools
in the country districts, he met with
an accident, which, though not result
ing seriously, was quite painful and
will probably cause him some incon-
venience for short time. 1t seems
that he was driving a rather spirited
horse belonging to Mr.. Cocks livery
stable, along a part of the road in
the neighborhoodo of Mr.. Kraft farm,
some distance from the city. The
road at this point runs near the rail
road track and in full sight of the
train. As Mr.. Purinton was driving
leisurely along, the sound Of an east
bound freight train was heard ap-
preaching and Immediately the horse
started off at quite swift gait, though
still under the control of the driver.
just as the train of cars came up with
the carriage, the engineer blew pro-
longed blast Of the steam whistle,
making such frightful noise that
the horse ran away at full speed. Mr..
Purinton was able to keep the car
riage in the middle of the road for
some distance until just after cross
ing small bridge, one of the timbers
of which was raised little above
the level, the buggy suddenly turned
over, throwing him out with consid-
cradle force and striking his head
against the bank on the side Of the
road. Fortunately he fell in such a
way as to cause no other injury than
rather severe abrasion of part of
the right side of the scalp and slight
sprain of the hip joint. We are glad
to learn that neither Of these injuries
are at all dangerous, and though pain
full he will soon be all right again.
The accident might have been
much more serious and as it was
some gentlemen working in the neigh
borhod, when the saw him fall and
came to pick him up, supposed him
to be dead. He was kindly cared for
by the neighbors, and shortly after
the accident was brought into the
city to the residence Of DR.. Shafer
The injury to the horse and car
riage is said to be slight.
It is believed that had the engineer
of the train not blown the whistle
when he did that the accident would
not have occurred. 1t seems to those
who saw it as though the engineer
seeing the horse q little frightened
thought to have some sport and so
blew the whistle in as hideous a
manner as possible; that the point
at which the whistle was blown was
nearly half mile from the regular
aud proper place at which to blow
it, and this fact being testified to
by the persons who live there and
see the trains pass every day, would
seem to indicate that it was an act
of pure recklessness on the part of
the engineer in order to enjoy the fun
Of the runaway. IF this be true the
matter should receive prompt and
thorough investigation and the guilty
party be severely punished. Grim
inal recklessness on the part of rail-
road engineers is getting to be OF too
dangerous frequency, and if it can be
shown upon examination that the
blowing of the whistle was entirely
unusual, and not at the ordinary and
proper place the one upon whom the
responsibility rests should be made
to suffer the consequences Of his
rash act.