American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1909-05-15
BAD ROADS
CLAIM A VICTIM
Mat Madison Killed al Spring
Hollow Grade.
Thrown From Wagon By Team Be-
coming Unmanageable, He Is
Dragged Under Wheels and
Instantly Killed.

Matt. Mattson, superintendent of the
Carey farm of D. w. Davis, was IN
stantly killed about O'Clock Wednes-
day afternoon, in a runaway accident
at Spring Hollow on the Aberdeen road
The accident was witnessed by no one,
but every indication is that the breaks
failed to hold his heavily loaded wagon
down the hill, forcing the team to run,
and throwing Mr.. Mattson under the
wheels, where he was instantly killed
He left here about noon. driving a
splendid, four-horse team, with several
bales of hay and about 5000 pounds OF
seed wheat for Mr.. Davis farm. Peter
Kurth and another young man was
with him, but walked through the
sandy stretch this side of Spring Hol-
low. and fell behind just enough so they
could not see what transpired. Near
the top of the hill leading to the bridge
is deep chuck-hole in the road. When
| the wagon dropped into this 1T is be-
/ leived the break became loosened, and
the horses unable to hold the heavy
load were forced into run. Near the
bottom of the hill is another bad hole,
and it is believed Matson lost control OF
the horses here, and either fell or was
4 forced to Jump on account of the SHIFT
ing of bags of grain, and was dragged
under the wheels. He was found with
in a minnie after the accident must
have happened, lying on the left side
of the road, with his head in the wagon
track. The hind wheel of the wagon
crushed his skull, causing instant death,
and made a severe abrasion on his
right arm, Otherwise his body was
unmarked. The team ran onto the
bridge, where the wagon was hung up
and the horses stopped, The horses
were uninjured and the wagon only
slightly damaged
Mr. Kurth mounted one OF the horses
and hastened to town. He did not
know whether Mr.. Mattson was dead
or not. and DR.. Moth and Mr.. Davis
left Immediately for the scene. Upon
examination the doctor said death was
7 instantaneous. The unfortunate victim
apparently never moved after being run
o 1er. He was lying in deep sand, but there
was no evidence of his having beer
dragged any distance. Guy Oliver and
{ Frank Reed arrived soon after and
brought the body to town. Funera
l services were conducted at the L. ID. 5.
; church, of which the deceased was a
member, Thursday at o'clock. f. j.
Kohlhepp and George Moench delivered
f. addresses eulogizing Mr.. Mattson's
f character and extending words of com
f fort to his family.
, Mr.. Mattson was about thirty-fiys
e years of age, and came here from Sail
. Lake about two years ago. The first
o season he farmed DR.. Trips place al
5 Aberdeen, and last year was employed
e by Philbrick & Greenwood. The past
winter he was employed at Cleveland:
livery and only recently went to wort
for Mr.. Davis. He was an excellent
horseman, and one of the last men whs
, would be expected to meet death il
: such a manner. He was sober, indus,
Il trious and a most exemplary man, anc
I his death brings a gloom to the entire
community. A family of wife and
. five young children are left to mourn
; his untimely death.
: Mrs. Mattson is being generally ad
: vised to sue Blaine county to recover
damages for her husbands death, but
I it is not known whether she will do sc
or not Had the road been in good con.
dition the accident would not have hap
pened. Blaine county IN all takes about
II S13, 000 a year for road taxes from this
d part of the county and her appropria
tion for roads this year is only SIS
J This road has the heaviest travel in the
!, county and is unquestionably the worst
u one