Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-05-21
STAGE ACCIDENT.
Benton Coach Has Two Serious Mis-
haps.

haps.
An accident occurred on the Benton
Lewistown stage line on Monday
which resulted in the death of a horse
and the passengers being more or less
injured. The passengers were John
Brooks, Harrison Decker and wife,
and w. II. Tolbert. The ribbons were
handled by Johnny Decker. The
coach was considerably smashed up
and the passengers were left at Square
Butte: the mail was brought in yes
terday by Chas. Wells, the stocktend.
er at C~ampbell's.
1t is almost an impossibility to OBJ
tain W stories alike and the version
of the affair as given by Wells and Mr..
Tolbert, who accompanied him to
town. are somewhat different. AS
near as can be ascertained the occur
renee was as follows: It seems that
the stage stopped at the summit OF the
Shonkin hill and Harrison Decker got
off to adjust the rough-lock; the
horses jumped and a trace came
loose. striking n Of the wheelers,
and in a few moments the entire out
IN was ~careerlng down the hill at
break-neck speed. Johnny stayed
with them and kept the outfit in the
road; when the bottom of the hill was
reached a culvert was crossed; this
ierked the king pin out and the wheel
ers lunged forward. one of them
jumping into the lead bars. Down
went the wheeler and away went the
team. dragging the dead horse and
the front trucks OF the coach. They
came To a stop at the bottom Of the
hill and were secured by the driver
and passengers, who were left IN the
rear end Of the coach.
Leaving the injured horse and II
wheeler. the leaders wro taken back
with the front trucks and as soon as
possible the coach was coupled mp and
a start was made for the next sta
ton. at the Lakes. ON arriving there
O horses were procured and Il man
sent back to bring in the remaining
wheeler and put the injured horse out
OF misery.
The second team was pretty rollicky
and at the big hill near Rocky Ridge
the of wheeler started to kick, and
splintcrcd the boot: this scared the
team and for a second time the pas
sengers were treated to a hair-raisinE
ride. Both Tolbcrt and Decker did
their utmost to check the frightened
animals. but in vain. and half wav
down the hill the passengers COM
menced to jump. John Brooks went
first and landed on his head and
shoulders: he was followed by Toll
bert and the rest OF the passengers,
while Johnny staid with the team un-
Ill he was thrown off. The horses
continued their mad gait until the
stage tipped oyc and checked their
wild career, though the leaders broke
the gooseneck off the pole and got en-.
tirely loose.
The passengers were all more OF
less injured. though non seriously;
John Brooks sustained a bad scall
wound, while the driver was bruised
about the shoulder. The lady escap.
ed with a few scratches. As 500 as
possible the wreck was Strengthened
up and the wheolers hitchcd to the
damaged coach, while the leaders
were driven to Campbells. a short dis.
lance away. by Mr.. Tolbert.
There the passengers and driver re
NAMED while Chas. Wells. the stock.
tender. took the mail sacks to Lewis
town and made arrangements for q
fresh coach to come for the passen
gers. No blame is attached to the
driver by the passengers. who state
that 1t was impossible to control the
team after they got started.
John Mears left Lewistown this
morning with a coach for the purpose
of bringing the remaining passengers
to town.