Cleveland, OH Runaway Horse Tramples Children Watching Parade, Sept 1904

One Dead And Seven Injured

Runaway Horse Clashed Into Group of Children Awaiting a Parade.

Twelve-Year-Old Lad Fell Beneath Animal and Died in Few Minutes.

The Dead.
Henry Miller, twelve years old, of No. 75 Tracy Street.

The Injured.
F.G. Bell of No. 205 Robison avenue, Glenville, leg broken; taken to St. Alexis’ hospital.
Joseph Ott of No. 295 Robison avenue, severely cut and bruised; taken home.
Martin Grady, eight years old, of No. 332 Columbus street, right shoulder broken; taken home.
Lawrence Grady, four years old, of No. 332 Columbus street, rib broken, teeth knocked out and badly cut and bruised; taken to German Hospital.
Leander Reilly, eight years old, of No. 192 Franklin avenue, cut and bruised; taken to his home.
William Theobald, twelve years old, of No. 979 Pearl Street, scalp wound and cuts and bruised; carried home.
Percy Hanks, Rowley street, cut and bruised severely; taken to German hospital.

A horse owned by F.G. Bell of No. 235 Robison avenue, Glenville, became unmanageable on Columbus street yesterday afternoon and in its runaway flight, threw Bell and a companion from the buggy and a few minutes later dashed into a crowd of children gathered at Freeman and Gehring streets.

When the maimed and bleeding children were pulled from beneath the horse and buggy or picked up from the spots to which they had been hurled, one had received fatal injuries from which he died a few minutes later. Five others had received painful and severe injuries.

A parade of German societies was approaching and the children were gathered in a group just beside the building of he Gehring brewery. Engrossed in watching the parade they were unaware of the approach of the horse.

Bell had just purchased the animal and was not accustomed to handling it. Near a lane on Columbus street it became frightened and started swiftly up the street veering from side to side. He pulled on the reins and sawed on the bit but all to no effect. The animal took the bit in its teeth and Bell’s attempts appeared to but increase its speed.

The buggy struck the curb, partly tipping and throwing Bell and Joseph Ott, who was with him to the pavement. Both men lay stunned upon the ground while the horse continued its flight.

Several pedestrians and residents of the street feared the danger if the animal got near the crowded streets where the parade was expected and they ran into the street attempting to head it off. They, too, failed in the efforts to stop the horse. At Freeman street it turned from Columbus street and onto the sidewalk.

At the junction of Gehring and Freeman streets the horse dashed into the group upon the sidewalk, scattering them about and then ran head foremost into a tree. The horse fell to the ground with the Miller child beneath it. Several of the others were also caught underneath the horse and buggy, but they fortunately escaped with lesser injuries than Miller.

Many people at once hurried to the rescue of the injured children. The horse was pulled off the bodies of the prostrate boy and the others disentangled from underneath the demolished buggy.

The Miller boy was at once carried to the office of Dr. S.E. Kaestlen of No. 32 McLean street. He had received a fractured skull and he died in the physician’s office but a short time later.

Others of the injured children were carried to the offices of Dr. R.C. Droege, No. 602 Pearl street, and Dr. W.K. Mock of No. 36 Gehring street. Later McGorray’s, A.R. Nunn’s and Saxton’s ambulances were called and two of the children were taken to the German hospital. Another was taken home. Bell was taken to St. Alexis hospital and Ott was taken to his residence.

Bell and Ott were returning from the stockyards, where they had traded their horse for the animal which caused the accident. The horse was unruly and had broken its harness before Columbus street was reached. The men had dismounted and fixed the harness and again started on the return trip when the horse, shying at a piece of paper, took the bit in its teeth and started on the wild run.

The Miller child was taken to the residence of its parents after its death. He was one of the seven children of the family.

Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH 5 Sept 1904
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!