West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-07-06
KILLED BY A RuNAwAY HORSE.
Terrible and Tragic Desth or Young
George Fairfax.

OF George Fairfax, eldest son of DIR.
j. NJ. q. Fairfax, of that place.
His sudden and tragic death shock.
ed the whole community and re-
minded all once again that Gin the
midst of life we are in death. .
The particulars of the accident by
which one young life was blotted
out and another left in critical
condition, is as follows:
MIR. Bert Despard, of Clarksburg,
who has been engaged in Valley
District leasing coal lands and
making his headquarters at DIR.
Fairfax's, was out Monday, accom-
panied by George, driving around
renewing the coal leases, most of
them having expired July LIST.
They were driving colt that be-
longed to the boy, and were in a
light cart. The colt had never been
worked much, but was fat and lazy
and seemed very gentle, and It's
ewner and another boy had driven
it around all the afternoon before,
breaking it to harness. Monday
evening, July 3rd, about 6 o. clock,
Mr.. Despard and George were driy-
ing down the long hill this side Of
gainesville, coming home to spend
the Fourth. The colt took fright
suddenly at o shock Of wheat near
the roadside and started to run.
Geeege was driving and holding
the lines loosely in one hand and
the whip in the other, and when the
colt started he grabbed for tho lines
with the hand that held the whip
also, and In so doing accidentally
struck the horse smart lick, which
of course made it worse. Mr.. Des-
pard then grabbed for the lines, too,
and both of them pulling on them,
broke the bride bit, and away the
colt went down the steep hill as
fast as he could run. The,further
he went the faster his speed, and
the road being rough, threw Des-
pard out with great force, breaking
his shoulder and hraising him up
severely, and it is feared hurting
HIM internally. Young Fairfax
held to the lines, but of course was
powerless to check the horse. Des-
pard shouted to him to jump, and
just as he raised in bis seat for that
purpose, the horse and cart struck a
heavy rough and ready fence, and
the shock threw the boy head
foremost into it with great violence,
crushing his skull and breast and
bruising him up terribly. LIE never
spoke afterwards and hardly moved,
but fingered an hour and half,
apparently suffering great agony,
but unconscious. The force with
which he smashed into the fence
was terrible, as it broke of heavy
post and tore down a panel or two
OF the fence. The horse stopped
then, after he had done all the
mischief he could, and being fast,
with the buggy on ono side and
himself on the other of the fence.
Mr.. Despard not realizing that he was
hurt himself, jumped up and ran to
help the boy. The only other wit
ness Of the accident was jerome
Kelly, who got there by that time
and helped pick the boy up and lay
HIM on the lap-robe. Then Mr..
Despard gave way and swooned
from his injuries and had to be
carried to the nearest house, Mr..
Ebbert Boyco's, where he remains
in critical condition. DR.. Bum
berger, OF Irohdale, was summoned
at once, but the boy was dead be-
fore any physician could arrive.
Next day the body was brought
home, aud it was terrible shock
to bis parents, his mother was
Frustrated and has been in a Sc
rious condition ever since, hardly
realizing the affection, but keeps
calling for George and asking why
he stays so long and why he don'i
come home? Mr. Despard is tax.
ing the boys death almost as hard
and says he would rather it had
been himself than the boy, and ht
would much rather lost all he ha,
than bad it happen. George was Z
general fayorito with everybody and
Mr. Despayd was greatly attached
to him. The funeral took plac,
Yesterday afternoon. and WA on,