The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-21
Webster Driver Allows Valuable
Pair of Horses to Wander
Along Railroad Tracks While En-
Route From Putnam
TIRED DRIVER AW0KE
AS HORSE FELL TO DEATH
After One Horse Had Been Killed
Driver Is Said to have Aban-
doned Team in Path Of Trains
But Fortunately Other Horse
Was Rescued
Was Rescued

Webster, Dec. 2O.-Through the care
lessness Of the driver, Liverymah
Frederick .Benoit lost another morse
Friday morning and at the same time
had one of his buses damaged con-
siderably. The stablekeeper holds the
record in town for having horses killed
or die on his hands. He has lost TWEEN
ty horses during his livery career anu
within five months at one time ne hao
eight die. Thursday the liveryman re-
ceived word from Henry Forand that
he had some goods that he wished
moved to Putnam. Benoit secured the
lob. loaded the wagon and turned II
over to George Walker to drive 10 Put-
nam and deliver the goods. The down
trip was made all right but there Is
something yet unexplained ABOUT the
return trip. Mr.. Benoit estimates his
loss at about $500, and Walker was
lucky to escape the way he dld.
walker left putnam Thursday even
ing at Ii o'clock bound for Webster
Evidently he had been INDUCING IN
some of the strong beef tea that is sold
in that city. for instead of continuing
on the highway the horses turned or
were turned onto the railroad tracks
shortly after leaving Putnam and con-
tinued up the tracks for nearly mile
and half. Fortunately no trains nap
pened along at that time or prooaply
both horses would have been killed ana
also the driver What is puzzling the
liyeryman is how the horses could have
crossed the bridges that span the cul-
verts along the route The horses sue
ceeded in crossing all the bridges I'M
til they reached the culvert near west
Thompson. There one of the horses
hoofs did not strike the ties ana the
horse sank down between them. IN
falling, the animal struck his temple
on the next tie and the blow and eX-
posture killed him. 1t seems that the
driver then left the team there, &C
cording to the story told by Joseph
Benoit, son of the stableman, and a
couple Of hours later a switcher with
couple of freight cars came along from
Putnam and struck the bus before the
train could be stopped The bus was
thrown from the tracks and the other
horse cut in several places. The horse
will live, but it's mate has been buried
in an adjacent lot.
With the assistance OF George Mich
OILS, who resides near theescene, and the
train crew, the tracks were cleared. 1t
is thought that after Walker had aban-
doned the wreck 1t remained on the
tracks for several hours. If a train had
happened along at that time running
at the usual rate Of speed a serious &C
cident might have occurred. Mr.. Be-
mott and his son drove to Putnam upon
being informed by telephone by :,
Nichols They located the driver, but
his story did not satisfy the stable
keeper and he ordered him out Of the
wagon and Walker was at once out Of a
Job. Walker claims that he went to
sleep and the horses turned out from
the highway and took the railroad
tracks, but Mr.. Benoit DOGS not take
any stock in his stories. The horses
made up fine pair Of blacks, valued at
$500. Mr.. Benoit recently refused an
offer of $500 for the horse that was
killed.
-Wilton's vaudeville stars will APP
pear in Music Hall next Monday after
noon and evening. The acts are rep
resented by Crane Bros. Burton &
Brooks, Margaret Scott, Murphy &
Willard, Dan Regain, Walker & Inman
and Frank Burt. This company is the
most expensive ever sent to Webster
by Manager Wilton.
Mrs. c. V. Ryan of Pittsfield Is Wis
iting Mrs. Michael Drumgoole.
Ralph Shumway Of Webster, en-
ployed as druggist for years In Wor-
| cester and later in Providence, leaves
soon for Los Angeles, Cal, where he
has secured position in a wholesale
drug house
Saturday evening the local basket
ball team will contest the Woonsocket
aggregation and a close game is ex-
pected.
The business men rolled on Hills
alleys Thursday night, and several
good strings were rolled. Prentiss
Howard rolled the record AN average
of 80. Crawford's team won. The score: