Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-09
LOST IN STORM.
Narrow Escape from Death Of
DR.. Ridley, Branch Mills.
Becomes Lost While Going Home from
North vassa|boro, Friday Night.
Passes Night in Pasture, But Will Recover
The Horse Perishes.

North Vassalboro, Me-. Jan. s.
(SpeciaD.-Dr. d. A. Ridley of Branch
Mills. had a narrow escape from death,
Friday night, being out in the beating
hail and snow storm. from early in the
evening until late in the morning. His
horse persisted as the result of the ex-
posture.
The animal was discovered. Satur-
day morning, in field, nearly an
eighth of mile from the road by
Charles Burgess, who lives across the
stream which supplies the mills here
with power. He was attracted. about
II o'clock in the forenoon, by some
thing black in the field. AS the dark
spot against the snow was some dis
lance away he thought it was the body
of man.
He at once made investigation and
found it to be "a horse and sleigh. The
horse when discovered was nearly
dead. Mr.. Burgess at once summoned
assistance and efforts were made to
restore the horse to life.
Trial Justice Halves of this place,
was one of the first men notified and
he at once made inquiries to learn what
could be done about the horse He
learned that the animal could not live
but short time.
AS soon as it was seen that the horse
could not be saved inquiries were made
as to the ownership of the animal. 1t
was then learned that the horse had
been driven the day previous by DR..
Ridley. Search was commenced ac-
cordingly for DR.. Ridley.
1t was at first feared the doctor had
persisted in the storm. In the sleigh
to which the horse was harnessed was
found the doctors medicine bag.
Near the sleigh We're tracks in the
snow leading to the stream short
distance away. This seemed to be
had become lost in the snow storm and
had wandered away and persisted
The tracks could be followed for some
distance but soon became so faint that
all trace of them was lost.
The discovery, which was made
about the time the people in the mill
we're leaving their work for dinner,
caused great excitement in the village.
and the report quickly spread that the
doctor had wandered away, during the
night, and having become lost had
persisted.
When the horse was discovered the
heat from it's body had melted the
snow so that the animal had dropped
below the surface and could be seen
only from certain positions. 1t was
feared that the body of the doctor had
disappeared in the same manner.
Searching parties were at once organ
lied for the body's discovery.
1t was discovered. later in the day.
that the doctor had been stopping at
the home of George Tracey. nearly a
mile from where the body of the horse
was found. 1t was then that the ter
rible experience he had been through
was learned.
1t seems that DR.. Ridley, who lives
in that part of Palermo known as
Branch Mills, had been called to this
place, Friday morning. by patient.
He visited the house, in the morning,
putting his horse up at Mr.. Tracey's.
After completing his professional du-
ties, he started for his home, the first
part of the evening.
The horse he had was one he had hired
from a man at Branch Uills. and was
what is known as bucking brOnchO.
The horse had been spirited all day, and
when the doctor started for home was
nearly unmanageable. When a short dis
tance from the starting place the horse
bolted into a field.
When once in the field the animal
started at a breakneck pace, down a
rudely constructed road, for the mill
stream. AIT that time it was very dark |
and in addition to this there was a blind |
tors face so that he could not see where |
the horse was going. just before the |
horse reached the stream the animal fell |
and the doctor then got him under con- |
troll. |
In trying to raise the horse from the |
place where it had fallen the doctor dis
covered that the horse was sick. Being |
blinded by the storm. the doctor did not
mon help. He made several attempts ito |
get help but could not find his way out |
on account of the unusual darkness
caused by the storm.
Fearing to leave the horse to the mercy |
of the storm. he covered him up with the |
blankets and tried to make the animal
comfortable The agony of the night to
Added to the bitter cold and the darkness |
was the binding storm. that made the |
doctors position dangerous When the |
first hight came SO that the doctor could |
see where he was. he started for the |
house. where he spent the greater part of |
the day. Friday. to recover from the re-
suits of the exposure of the night before. |
covered sufficiently to be able to start |
for home. 1t was thought. today, that |
the doctor would suffer but slight i'll eff
fects from his night of exposure. The
horse died within an hour after being dis