Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-06-28
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Little Francis Spence Hun Over and In
iured by One of sawdon s. Thomas Big
Wagons.
Two years.old Francis Spence. a
bright little lad with large brown eyes
and pretty hair, was playing with an
older brother on the pavement in front
Of his home, No. Col Lombard street,
about $50 last Monday morning. Mrs.
Daslcr, who lives next door, with whom
Francis is great fagorite, gave the little
fellow broom and told him to sweep
the gutter out. The chubby-faccd lad
took tho broom aud with an eager hand
began sweeping the gutter as directed.
Mrs. Basler watched him from her seat
on the stoop, while Francis elder
brother sat down on the pavement and
busted himself by building house out
of sand
While Francis was sweeping tho
pavement one Of the abbattoir's big
beef wagons came down Sixth street
and swung into Lombard with consider
able speed. The street is narrow at this
point and 1t happened that wagon,
belonging to Hart 81 Bro, was standing
on the opposite side of the thoroughfarc
from where Francis was ut work. In his
eagerness TO avoid the wheels of Hart IL
Bro 3 wagon, which was headed toward
Sixth street, the driver of Sawdon &
Thomas wagon did not notice the little
fellow sweeping out the gutter and
Francis was SO absorbed in his work
that, unlike most boys, he did not look
up at the passing wagon. lie just kept
ON sweeping
fta l.
the end of the broom handle and giving
It twirl pitched Francis into the street.
lie fell on his stomach right under the
vehicle, both wheels passing diagonally
over his back and left shoulder, skinning
his neck, bruising his lett ear u little
and just grazing the side OF his head.
An inch or SO further and the wheels
would have crushed his head.
Mrs. Basler screamed when she saw the
last wheel pass over the boys head and
moro dead than alive she gathered him
in her arms and carried him in the
house. A message was sent for DIR.
Brown, who was quick to arrive. He
found several large bruises on the child's
back but does not think he is injured
internally, although badly hurt. The
little fellow was unconscious for short
time after the accident, but soon re-
covered and bore up brayely under the
ordeal. When seen on Monday he was
lying on his back in baby coach rest.
ing as comfortable as could be expected
under the circumstances. lie was evi.
IDENTIFY suffering much pain in the back
and across the breast where that part of
his body came in contact withthe Jagged
cobble stones, but he made no complaint
and showed himself the plucky 2-years-
old he actually is.
The neighbors all focked into the
house to sec the youngster when they
learned of the accident and the widest
rumors were put in circulation in the
neighborhood. One rumor had IL that
the boy had been killed, while another
report was that he had both arms
broken. Some of the neighbors ex.
pected to see him mangled to pieces,
But instead they found him lying in the
coach as cool and Us brave as a soldier
wounded in battle. The driver of the
wagon, rs soon as he could get his
horses stopped, came running into the
house expressing the most abiect
apology for the accident, explaining
that he was trying to avoid the other
wagon and did not sec the child. He
expressed his deepest sympathy.