Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-24
KILLED BY A RUNAWAY HORSE,
The Horrible Death of Miss
Belle Nichols.
The End Of a Shaft Penetrates Into
Her Brain.
Second and Spring Streets the Scene OF
a Tragic Occurrence-The Victim
Was Soon to Have
Been Married.

Miss Belle Nichols was killed oy
runaway horse about O'Clock last
evening at the corner OF South Spring
and Second streets. She was going
south on the west side of Spring and
had gotten about half way across Second
when a runaway horse, carrying the
harness and shafts of broken buggy,
came dasLing down Second street from
Broadway on the west. The streets at
this crossing were unusually crowded by
people returning home from their work,
and by others who had been out making
Christmas purchases, and it was quite
dark. The Gathering OF the horses
feet was heard as the animal ran
through the streets, and several wit
,nesses OF the sad accident state that
they barely escaped danger. The unfor-
tunate lady was struck in the lett eye by
one of the shafts, throwing her to the
ground. The shaft broke off at about
two feet from the tip, at point where
it had been repaired, otherwise the lady
would have been dragged through the
streets and more horribly mangled than
che was. The shaft entered the head
through the eye to the depth OF about
three inches, penetrating the brain.
The dying woman was picked up py
several witnesses to the accident. ana
the piece of buggy shaft was taken from
the wound, clotted with blood end
brain. She was taken to the receiving
hospital, the wound bleeding freely,
leaving trail of blood from the front
door of the police station back to the
hospital.
Clerk Bean telephoned for medical as
eistance at once.
In the lady's pocket was found q
memorandum, showing that she lived
at 33l1a South Spring street, and was
the landlady of that rooming house.
Chief Glass detailed Officer Leverich
to visit the house and notify her friends.
One of the lady roomers at once started
to the hospital. Mr.. F. G. Armstrong
had at the moment arrived to call on
Miss Nichols, and on being told of the
accident, hurried to the station. But
they found that Miss Nichols was dead.
Mr.. Armstrong burst into tears. They
were to be married within q few weeks.
The unfortunate lady lived only about
10 minutes after the accident, and was
UNCONSCIOUS during the time.
Miss Nichols was about 80 years OF
age, had been in this city about four
years, and is native Of Kentucky. The
body was taken to the morgue, where
an inquest will be held today.
She leaves an aged mother, who is
suffering from paralysis. Owing to her
illness it was deemed prudent not to tell
her of the death OF her daughter. On
being told that her daughter had been
injured by an accident, the aged lady
cried, saying: 81 have been uneasy
about Balle ever since 5 o'clock this
evening"
Miss Nichols formerly kept rooming
house on Third street. between Sonth
Spring and Main. The house was dam
aged by the excavation OF lot adjoin-
ing, and she removed to 3311a South
Spring street.
Two other accidents were the cause Of
this accident and death. A boy, aged
about IL years, named Arnold Sleek.
was driving down Broadway going to
the Southern Pacific railroad depot for
his father, who is employed in the
shops. AT the corner OF Fifth street,
the boy states, heavy wagon, drawn
by two brown horses, ran into his bug
gy, breaking it and throwing him to the
ground, severely bruising his right
arm. His horse then ran up Broadway,
and down second to Spring, carrying the
harness and shafts to the point of the
accident. The runaway horse was sub
sequently caught by Officer Dunn about
half block bevond.
The wagon which collided with Sieck's
buggy is believed not to be injured.
The little boy's wounds were dressed at
the receiving hospital, after which De-
tective Bosqui took his statement.