The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-04-18
FATAL ACCIDENT.
Daniel w. Agnew loses his Life by
Runaway Team.


On Thursday evening last about 5
o'clock, Gus Wensel, Wilbur, Alex.
and Frank Hunter, who had just re.
turned from Pittsburgh and we're aux.
ious to reach their homes at Nebraska
that evening, hired Daniel w. Agnew
to take them up in a hack, leaving
here about the hour indicated above.
Mr.. Agnew conveyed his passengers
safely home and started on his return
about seven o'clock. About an hour
or so later a young man brought the
team into town minus the hack, they
having overtakeu him half mile be
low what is known as the Blue Mar.
rows, five miles above this place on
Tionesta creek. The young man did
not stop to investigate matters, but
started hastily for town to give the
alarm. The team had evidently been
in the water, and as nearly as could be
judged, had run away. ". A. j.
Small and Davey Hilands started
back with the team Immediately, and
during their absence the relatives and
friends were in great suspense, and
thus remained, between fear and hope,
until about half past ten, when the
very worst was realized iu the return
of these gentlemen conveying the
lifeless remains Of Mr.. Agnew.
What started the horses, or rather,
how they got the advantage of their
driver, will perhaps never be known,
but the first that was seen Of the run.
away, and the only eye witnesses we're
the wife Of Mr.. VIM. Walters and her
two small children, who live directly
opposite to the spot where the fatal
termination of the runaway occurred
Hearing an unusual noise Mrs. WIS
attention was attracted iu the direc.
tion from which it came, and the scene
which met her gaze was so horrifying
as to almost strike her dumb The
horses, which seemed to be perfectly
wild, we're dashing down the rough
road at a terrible speed, while Mr..
Agnew was leaning back and pulling
with all his strength at the lines, but
without avail. At the upper end OF
the uarrows the two outside wheels
left the road bed and ran along the
side Of the steep bank distance of q
hundred yards, where a slight bend in
the road gave the hack chance to
drop farther down the embankment,
and there is where it went over. Mr.
Agnew was undoubtedly thrown clear
of the hack and struck first upon the
left side Of the head on the rocks down
at the waters edge. The horses, hack
and all went over, and it was here tha
the horses became detached from thu
hack, leaving it standing out in tht
stream, Is feet from shore. Th,
horses then continued-they IN ust hav,
swan, as the water was quite deep
two hundred yards down the creek be
fore coming out and sgain climbing
the steep embankment into the road
about 40 rods below which they wert
caught, as above stated. Tho descen
is fully Is feet where the hack wen
over, but the unfortunate man mus
have fallen q: least 20 feet from hi
position in the seat of the hack. w heI
Mrs. Wslters saw the team 60 over
she hurried the children down to Mr.
Bush's to give the alarm. Steve Busl
crossed the creek and told the youuJ
man who had caught the horses t.
hurry to town, while he would run t.
Nebraska for assistance. In bis frigh
he did not stop to investigate natter
but went on and told the story Of th,
accident to the first ones he met a
Nebraska, and in a very short tim,
quite number had gathered to th,
spot, and there found Mr.. Agnew dead
with his head aud shoulders in tb,
water 10 the waist. They bad taken
him out but few moments before tn,
hack from here arrived and bIough
the remains to town. Physicians ex
amined the wounds and found from
their nature that death must have re
suited instantly, as the skull was en-
tirely crushed in, thus removing al
doubts as to whether he might DO
have drowned after being stunned.
1t is evident from traces left tbs
the team first commenced running a
a high point in the road a short die
tance above Sugar Run" aud abou
half a mile above where the hack wen
over. Near this small run one of Dan :
gloves, aud a cushion ont of the hinC