Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-30
British Ruler, Severely
: Shaken Up BY Fall
and Narrowly Escap-
ed Serious Injury or
Death by His Expert
Horsemanship
CONFINED TO BED
FOR THE PRESENT

London, Oct. 20, 2.36 p. M.-The King
was in an accident yesterday morning,
being thrown from his horse and Sc
verely bruised.
The following official announcement
was made:
while the King this morning (Thurs-
day. was inspecting his army in the
field. his horse, excited by the cheers
of the troops, reared up and fell. The
King was bruised severely and will he
confined to bed for the present.
.tsigne9 Arthur sloggett'
Anthony Bowlby,
Bertrand Dawson,
Wilmot Herringham,
Cuthbert Wallace +,
A later bulletin, under today's date.
says:
1.-The King has had fair night, with
some sleep The temperature is now
99.2 and pulse IS. His Majesty's gem
eral condition has improved and no
complications have arisen. :,
(Signed) Anthony Bowlby.
Bertrand Dawson" !.
Accident Not Serious
It is understood that the accident to
the King was not serious, although no
details have been made public beyond
those disclosed in the official announce
ment.
The Prince of Wales arrived at Buck
ingham palace this afternoon. on leave
from France. The prince was in close
attendance on his father during the
Kings inspection of his troops at thu.
front 1t is believed the prince has
returned for the purpose; Of reassuring
Queen Mary as to the Kings condition.
His presence here is 3taken as confirma-
ton of the statement that the accident
was not serious. s@s. 49,
Was in France 4
Announcement was made ON Monday
that King George was in France, hav-
ing gone to visit the British army. On
Tuesday the King. with the Prince of
Wales, President Poincare and the then
French war minister, Alexandra Miller
and, reviewed the British troops. He
then called on General Joffre and wit
messed a review of French colonial
troops.
Accident Described
A Reuter- dispatch from British mead
quarters, describing the accident to the
King says he had just completed an In
spection of one corps and was on his
way to inspect another when cheers
from the troops. who threw their caps
in the air caused his horse TO rear. Inc
King managed to regain control OF the
horse, which, however. reared again ana
fell over backwards, throwing the King
to the ground. -
He was Immediately assisted to a mo-
tor car and while driving away was
able to return the salutes Of the troops
as he sat in the corner of the car.
Experienced Horseman
That the king was not more seriously
injured was doubtless due to the 1act
that he is very much at home IN the
saddle and is considered more than an
ordinary rider, being quite as good as
the average mounted officer in the army.
When at Windsor he rides in the great
mark every day, and when he is In Lon
don is often seen in the early morning
riding in Hyde Park with Pn1cess
Mary.
The Kings horses, of course. are wen
trained and they are accustomed 70
music, firing and the cheering OF troops
The horse which he was riding yester-
day. it is said, had been put through u
special course of training for the re-
views and already had gone through one
ordeal. yesterday morning. The great
outburst of cheering and the appearance
Of thousands of waving caps. however
were too much for the animal on the Sec
ond occasion. A heavy rain was falling
and the slippery condition Of the road
made it, more difficult to control the
horse. which apparently lost its footins
when It reared the second time.