Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-12-14
I||LKMAN DYER'S
NARROW escape

One of the most sensational runaway
accidents that has taken place here
about in long time occurred Tues
day morning, when a loaded milk
| wagon with the driver inside was pre-
cipitated down over an eight foot en-
bankment, landing upside down on the
fast freight was due
The accident occurred on the State
highway near the borough line about
half past seven o'clock, the victim be-
ing Clark Dyer, the wellkno Sn dairy
man.
Mr.. Dyer, with his wagon we'll load
ed with milk "a large portion of which
was contained in bottles, left his home
northwest of Mooresburg, at the usual
hour. As he was approaching town
about midway between the company
barn and the P. q r. railroad cross
ing one of the single trees became
loose. AS a consequence the team flew
ahead, the result being that the neck
yoke slipped off the end of the tongue,
which caused the latter to drop to the
ground. When this occurred the team
was trotting along at fast clip Wheu
the tongue dropped it instantly caught
in the ground, while the wagon, car
ried onward by the momentum, when
suddenly checked rose in the air turn
ing nearly a complete somersault, fall
ing down over the steep embankment
on the south side of the highway an
landing top downward on the railroad
track.
AS the wagon went over the horses,
held only by one single tree, tore loose
and with the lines dragging after them
dashed down into town.
The accident was witnessed by Henry
Shut who conducts wheel wright
shop little south of the p & r.
crossing. as we'll as by a couple of 9th.
ers. Mr.. Shut knew that the north
bound fast freight was nearly due and
as fast as he could he ran to the spot
der what assistance he could.
The wagon lay upon the track the
top nearly total wreck, while broken
bottles aud split milk added to the
aspect of ruin. Mr.. Dyer was in the
closed wagon aud would have had no
opportunity to escape even if ne would
have had time to jump. Nothing re-
manned for him but to go down over
the embankment with the wagon.
1t was a fearful position to be in.
Delayed with milk and in the midst
of broken bottles with his heels more
than once higher than his head his ex-
perience was one never to be forgotten
and that he escaped death or terrible
injury is remarkable. He was much
bruised and cut about the face, the
worst cash occurring on his nose. The
blood flowed profusely, but it was lat
er discovered that none of the wounds
were serious.
Mr.. Shut. assisted by the other
gentlemen, whose names have not been
ascertained, began at once to clear the
track and after a good bit of tugging
and hard pulling succeeded in getting
the wagon out of the way just as the
fast freight came bowling along. 1t
was this one circumstance, that the
freight train was about due, that con-
stituted such a grave element of peril,
70 haI tha anaiIapt nonnrrnI hnt a
few minutes later the wagon with it's
imprisoned driver might have been
precipitated on the track almost under
the wheels of the fast freight.
The runaway team as it came dash
ing in North Mill street minus the
wagon caused much excitement, as it
was clear that bad driving accident
had taken place. While people were
busy conjecturing what had occurred
the team caused fresh excitement by
performing stunt that was not look
ed for. Just opposite the armory the
lines became entangled in the hind
foot of one of the horses, which pulled
both animals up onto the terrace at
th, residence of A. III. Grone. Reach
ing the top the horses, further entangl-
ed, fell and rolled down to the bottom,
landing upon their backs on the side
walk. This experience took some of
the spirit out of the horses and they
were easily caught.
Mr.. Dyer lost nearly all his milk.
Ten bottles were not broken and about
one half of the contents of can of
milk was saved. The tongue snapped
off about three feet from where the
double tree was fastened, while the
top is generally wrecked, the roof be-
ing entirely missing.
The accident happened at point
where the embankment, some eight
feet high, is unprotected by a guard
rail. Eastward and Westward the en-
bankment is amply protected. That a
guard rail should have been erected at
this spot is clearly demonstrated by