Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-05-31
EATALLY INJURED
4 BY WILD RUNAWAY
William Golfers Skull Fractured
by Brosnahan's Team
Accident Happened on Main Street Mon
day-coller Thought to Have Attempt
ed to Stop the Horses.

ACCIDENT fappeneu OF WAN StTeet "o"-
day-coller Thought to Have Attempt
ed to Stop the Horses.
william Collier, 81, was fatally injured
Monday morning at 9.25 in an heroic at
tempt IL stop pair of runaway horses
which were rushing furiously down the
street He died at clock that night
In the Memorial hospital without having
regained consciousness. The accident
took place on Main street in front
of Hoiden's pharmacy while a num-
Der of persons looked on, powerless
to prevent the fatality. MIR. Golfers
skull was fractured, his legs and arms
were bruised and he sustained Internal
injuries. The horses were owned by
Daniel NJ. Brosnahan.
Charles Goodell, who was in charge
Of the team, had been loading a con-
signment of goods at the Durham
Brothers company's wholesale store back
of the Hooker building and was inside
the building signing receipts Tor the
goods The horses, a handsome pair oil
blacks, were standing quietly In the drive"
way near the Vermont Savings bank
until a young man turned the corner
carrying a screen door. One of the
horses became frightened at the door
and then the other began to dance. Inc
young man put the door down on the
cement walk with the intention of quiz
citing the horses but before he could
grasp a bride they boted. Mr. Good
ell ran after them and caught hold of
one of the reins before they had arriv-
ed at Main street, but he had gone only
a few feet. pulling on the rein, when the
rein broke and the animals were free.
They reached Main street on the jump
and when halfway across turned south.
The truck which they were dragging
struck Dennison Cowles's automobile,
which was in front of Robbins &
Cowless store, and damaged it slightly.
The horses continued down the street
at aSterrifc speed. Mr.. Collier had just
ccRast down the steps at the south en-.
trNSSe to Crosby block, carrying a pre-
serve jar in which he intended to get
some milk from one of the Bradley
farm milk teams which was standing
in front of Holdens drug store.
Mr.. Collier was standing close by the
milk team when the horses came rush.
ing wildly down the street. He threw
up his hat and waved his arms in an at
tempt to stop the horses, but his efforts
had no effect upon them and they rush
ed directly toward him. The horses
barely missed him, but he was caught
between the wheels of the rapidly NOV
ing team and the milk team, whirled
around and thrown violently to the
ground.
The horses kept on but instead OF
following the street past the junction
of Elliot street they dashed straight
toward the sidewalk at the corner Of
the Peoples National bank One horse
ran upon the sidewalk, the other re-
manning in the gutter. The wagon pole
crashed into the big telephone pole at
the corner and stopped the runaways
and several men grasped their brides
and held them.
Bystanders hurried to Mr.. Golfers as
ST nd ha IVA ga ia.1i inf N q
drug store. DR.. Harry p. Greene at
tended him until the ambulance arrived
and went with him to the hospital.
Examination showed that his skull was
fractured and that he was injured in
. ternally. DR.. G. r. Anderson and DR.. c.
S. Pratt performed an operation that
afternoon and found that a piece of
bone had penetrated the brain and that
the brain was filled with blood He died
about 9 o'clock without regaining con-
seriousness. Immediately after the &C
cident C. R. Crosby, by whom Mr.. Col
automobile to Marlboro, where Mrs
Collier was preparing the Snow Tavern
for summer guests, and she was hurried
to her husbands bedside.
No blame is attached to Mr.. Goodell
the driver of the team, he did hi:
best to stop the horses when they be-
gam to run. Neither is the young mar
for the accident as he tried to stop then
when they bolted. The pole of the trucl
was broken in several pieces when i
struck the telephone pole. The front axl,
was broken short off near the RICH
wheel. The horses were not injured. TIL,
truck remained jammed against the pos
until after II o'clock, when it was tax
en- away. the high seat badly smashed
William Collier was born in Mortified
Mass, Aug. 80, 1860, a son of Nose
Gardner and Mary Houghton) Collier
When but a few years of age his pa
rents moved to Athol, Mass, and h
attended the schools there After leav
ing school he worked in Athol and il
the northern part of this state and 2
or "a years ago he went to Springfield
Mass. He was employed as dynam
maker there until 10 years ago whe
he came to this town. He married Mis-
Emma M Whitaker of Brattlebor
April IL, 1895. After coming here he wa
employed several years by the Este
Organ company and by the White Rive
Chair company. Last fall he entered tn
employ of the Crosby Realty Co. as as
sistant to the janitor, C. f. Whitake
Last summer Mr.. and Mrs. Collier opene
the Snow Tavern in Marlboro, which the
had bought, and it was his intention
go there In a few weeks to renal
through the summer, He was a membt
of the Advent church here, having ha
his membership transferred from til
church in Springfield, Mass. Besides h
wife he leaves his mother three sister
Mrs. Julia f. Streeter of Amhers
4 Mass, Mrs. Emma Martin of Sprnf
Cdeld, Mass, and Mrs. Robert s. ALE
of Windsor, and one brother, Charlie
Collier of Springfield, Mass.