The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-09
MANY BROKEN BONES
4 Foolhardy Coasting Party
Comes to Grief.
DOWN MADISON STREET HILL,
A Wild Ride Down the Steep Grade
stepped by Telegraph Poie-one
Young Man Badly Hurt.

An extra long cob-sled rushing wildly
down Madison street with SIX fright
ene6 young men on board. and coming IN
sudden contact with a telegraph pole at
Third and Madison streets. scattering its
human freight right and left. formed .
sight that nearly paralyzed all who hap
pened to be in that neigheorhood early
yesterday morning. AT least three or four
dead bodies were looked tor, but by one of
those mysterious dispensations of provi-
denee no one was killed or even fatally
hurt but George r. Mills, 10 years old and
living at los Madison street, the steerer OF
the sled. acting as buffer for the
companions in his rear. received
all the injuries, and now lies at Provi-
dence hospital with numerous injuries to
his person. Both bones of his right leg,
his right elbow and collarbone are known
TO be broken. and il is thought two or
three ribs are fractured. 1t Is probable
that there may be internal injuries
that will render Ii impossib for
the attending physician to determine his
condition for day or two. Though the
other young men each received severe
shaking up with many scratches and
bruises. yet all we're able to walk away
after having collected their scattered and
we'll shakened senses.
Young Mills, however. was senseless,
and fortunately DR.. Horton happened to
be passing by and gave him at once his
closest attention. The patrol wagon was
sent for and the wounded young man,
who had recovered, was taken to Provi-
dence hospital, where, assisted by DR..
Stewart, DR.. Horton made a thorough ex-
animation of the patient and at once set
the broken members. A sleeping draught
was given the sufferer and late last even
ing he was resting easily and apparently
doing well. The only cause for alarm was
the splitting of little blood, which, as Dr..
Horton explained. may mean nothing
more than the breaking of an insignificant
blood vessel. 1t will take several days to
determine the internal condition of the
young man, rs aside from the broken
limbs his right side shows where it struck
the telegraph pole.
1t appears that the young men. headed
bv Mills, had contemplated this slide for
some time. and Sunday night walked over
the route, the starting point being at
Eleventh street, taking the sidewalk on
the north side of Madison street. After
sliding down to Seventh street they were
to turn north, following the incline to Pike
street. Mills being considered the coolest
head was decided on as stserer, and all sat
down yesterday morning on the bob-sled.
with Mills in front as sieerer. full of pleas
ant anticipations. The start was
made all right, and with shout
from the crowd the sled came
tearing down to Tenth. then down to
Ninth and on down 20 Eighth. gaming
velocity with each block, so that when
Seventh street was reached the momentum
was too great for Mills and he either lost
his nerve or was unable TO control the sled.
IL shot past Seventh and went on down
past Sixth, Fifth. Fourth and after cross
ing Third something slightly swerved the
sled and instead of shooting down the
! steep incline to Second street il struck the
telegraph pole. and by that accident per-
haps saved the lives. of all on board, for
had the sled gone on down TO Second
street it must have been brought among
the distractions at the crossing by the
Rialto building and the results must have
been fatal 10 many.