The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-08-19
TRAGIC DEATH OF
DR.. B, F. GODFREY
Victim Of FriglltfuI Run
away Accident.
HE LIVED 90 HOURS.
Becoming Frightened at Train the Doc.
tors Horse Ran Away and Crashed
into the Bridge Railing.

In disastrous runaway accident in
| this city last Thursday afternoon DR..
Benet Franklin Godfrey, one of the
corlnty's most popular young men and
successful physicians, was fatally in
jured, his death ensuing twenty eight
hours later; his horse so badly hurt that
he had to be killed, and his buggy com
| pletely demolished. The accident oc-
CURED about O'Clock as DR.. Godfrey
was driving into the city by way of the
Laurens oil mill. In crossing the rail
way track just ahead of passenger
train No. from Spartanburg, the doc
tors horse evidently became frightened
at the moving train SO close behind and
dashed wildly down the declining road
toward North Harper street river
bridge. So great was the speed that
when the turn of the road at the north
end of Little river bridge was reached
horse, buggy and driver crashed into
the railing of the bridge, and tearing it
away, fell nearly twenty feet into the
stream below, the horse falling on DIR.
Godfrey and the buggy being complete
ly demolished. The horses hind leg
was broken and the animal had to be
killed. DR.. Godfrey was rendered un-
conscious and but for the timely as
sistance of a negro who was standing
nearby when the accident occurred, he
would have been drowned, for his head
was in water when the colorcd man
reached him.
AS quickly RS possible the doctor was
removed to the home of Mr.. Frank
Martin, who resides nearby, where he
received immediate medical aid, all of
the physicians of the city going to the
scene post haste. 1t was found that
DIR. Godfrey's left leg had been broken
little above the knee, one rib fractur-
| ed and otherwise seriously injured in
ternally. Mrs. Godfrey was notified of
the horrible accident and she came at
once, bringing with her Miss Lille
Hairston, trained nurse, who happen
ed to be at her fathers on visit, and
everything possible was done to make
her husband comfortable. At no time.
however, did he rally sufficiently to
warrant an operation, remaining in
semi conscious condition until the
end, which came just before O'Clock
Friday afternoon, or % hours after the
accident internal hcmorrhage causing
his death. Following the disaster hun
drcds of friends and relatives visited
the Martin home Thursday evening and
| Friday, all Offering assistance and Civ
ing expression of deep and genuine re-
grct over the unfortunate occurrence.
On Saturday morning at III O'Clock
the funeral and burial services, con
Quoted by Rev. G.. w. Saltcr, DR.. God
frey's pastor, assisted by Rev. w ID.
| Hammctt, a former pastor, and the
| Masons of Laurens, was held at Rocky
Springs Presbyteriam church few
miles east of Laurcns and near the late
home of the deceased. The attendance
is said to have been the largest seen at
this church on a similar occasion i'm a
number of years.
The active pail bearers we're: Messrs.
A. w. league, G. M Miller, c.. M. Babb,
b. B. Blakely, j. A. Simmons, John Nj.
Cannon and j. X. Galcgly
Bcnet Franklin Godfrey was the
youngest son of Mr. and James w.
Godfrey and was born thrty-fivc years
ago near Exon, this county. His father
died more than twenty years ago At
ter attending the schools around home
and spending a year or so in the Honea
Path High school, he studied medicine
at the Chattanooga Medical college.
graduating from that institution ten or
twelve years ago. After practicinp at
Madden for a time with DR.. j. Ben
Jones, DIR. Godfrey located near Rocky
Springs, about six miles east of Lau-
rens, where he built up and continued
a fine practice. He married Miss Bessie
Cunningham only daughter of Mr.. j.
S. Cunningham, who together with five
children are bereft of husband and
father. He is also survived by his aged
mother, a sister, Mrs. A. b. Culbertson
and two brothers, Messrs. j. Wallace
and Young A. Godfrey, all of the Exon
section. In addition he had an extern
sive and prominent connection through
out the county.
AS has been stated, DR.. Godfrey en-
joyed wide popularity and he was a
useful, patriotic citizen. He was
member of Bellview (Baptist) church.
a Mason of high degree, being Knight
Templar, and held membership in other
fraternal orders, including the Wood
men of the World, Junior Order United
American Mechanics, Red Men and also
the Farmers Union and the I,aurens
! Cn,,ntv Medical Aoenniation