by Laurel | January 24th, 2012
Horse Drawn Sleigh
24 January 1909
Holyoke Children Injured
Horses Run and Big Sleigh is Overturned — Many are Badly Bruised
A party of children form the 8th grade in the Holyoke Highland School met with bad luck while on a sleigh-ride yesterday, the sleigh being overturned and a large number of the children being more or less severely bruised and injured. Fortunately, there were no very serious accidents, although it was stated last evening that Thomas, the son of Thomas Sullivan of the lighting department had his wrist broken and a number of other children received sprains and bruises. About 60 children started on the ride from the city to Northampton and after reaching that city 20 took the electric cars for home. The sled started for home with the rest of the children and had nearly reached Abbott’s Soap Factory when something on the forward bob of the sled broke, letting the horses free themselves, after which they promptly ran away. The forward bob on the sled twisted around, the impetus given throwing the sled to the side of the road where it toppled over, throwing the children on a fence.
That there were no more serious injuries reported seems marvelous, as the children were piled on top of each other and against the fence. It was a sad looking party that came back to Holyoke, over half of the children having bruises visible. There will probably be some investigation made of the accident, as it would seem that care should be taken to have the sleds in a safe condition before such parties are taken out, but it was probably one of those accidents which could not be well guarded against.
From The Springfield Republican.
