Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-04
JUMP At HORSE SHOW
ENDS IN RIDERS DEATH
u. D. Benner of Warrenton,
Va, Thrown From Favorite
Mount, Sans-a-Tout.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, August A.
U. D. Benner Of Warrenton, We, one Of
the most widely known horsemen In the
state and an exhibitor throughout the Vir-
ginia circuit and at the Long Branch On.
j. and other northern horse shows. died
at $50 o'clock last night at the University
Of Virginia Hospital. His skull was frac-
tured at the base, all the ribs on the
right side were broken and he was in
jured Internally. His nose was broken
and several teeth were knocked out.
Benner's fatal injuries were received
about o'clock yesterday afternoon at the
Orange horse show. where he was ex-
hihiting his string Of horses from the
Bell Air farm at warrenton. The last
event on the prograln-the class for hunt
ers and jumpers, free for all. best per
Torrance up to five feet-was on and
Benner on his favorite mount. sans-a-
Tout formerly owned BY Eugene Lever
ing Of Baltimore. was the third entry In
tho ring.
Tho splendid bay marc seemed to BE-
going badly after taking the first hurdle
and the fact was commented on by Mrs.
Allen Potts, who was in the Judges stand.
Tho second hurdle was negotiated In fair
form. but when the third 5umpe brush
to make no effort to clear the bar. Her
fore feet crashed into the Jump and she
turned a complete somersault, landing
on top OF her rider, who had fallen for
ward and lay prone upon his back.
Rider Made Unconscious.
The accident occurred directly in front
Of the grandstand. and many women
shneked with horror as the horse, after
I'LL r.. ,l,nA
foot on Benners face as the rider lay un-
conscious. Many Of those who first
reached the scene expected to find Ben
pact.
Several physicians examined tho injured
man, among them DR.. e. Lester Jones OF
CuIpeper. Drs d. r. Weaver. F. G. Scott.
w. ]. Crittenden and Page Of Orange and
DIR. Jack Burks Of Alexandria, and an
nouncement was made that Benner had
suffered conclusion Of the brain, a broken
nose and internal injuries The patient
the United States Army officers, who were
exhibiting six Of the horses shown at the
Olympic show IN London. removed to the
station at Orange and placed on Chesa-
Charlottesville at 7:15 o'clock. He was
accompanied by Drs. Weaver and Harris
and Joel NJ. Cochran, manager Of the AL
bemarle horse show. The trip was very
hard on the patient, ana at one t1n1o MS
pulse almost ceased to beat and his face
turned dark blue.
Mr.. Benner died about an hour after he
reached the hospital. An examination
showed that a rib was driven into the
lung. It was seen at once that the case
was hopeless and no operation was per-
formed. Stimulants were given.
Son Of Prominent Farmer.
Mr. Benner was the son Of John Ben
ner, proprietor Of the Bell Air farm near
Warrenton, and one OF the most promi-
nent farmers Of Fauquier county. The
son was q student Of the University of
Virginia. session '91-2. and took an active
part in athletics. He played third base
on the varsity base ball team. He leaves
a wife and one child.
Yesterdays fatality was the second
that has occurred in the annals; OF Viz
ginia horse shows. and by a singular CO.
incidence both of the victims were resi-
dents of Warrenton. The first was Charles
w. Smith. who had his back broken at
the Norfolk show about five years ago.
Hardly had the excited crowd at to-
days show cooled down from the accident
to Benner. perhaps the most horrible ever
witnessed at a Virginia horse show, be-
fore another rider came to grief in the
same class. In taking the initial jump
Mrs. Allen Potts splendid bay gelding
Willow King threw it's rider, Joe Ladd.
The boy was thrown violently to me
ground, and had not a bystander rushed
to his aid the horse would have stepped
upon him as he lay unconscious on the
ground with the bride clutched In his
hand. His right collar bone was broken
and his arm badly bruised. He suffered
considerably from the shock.