Holman, Mary - 1871

HOLMAN, HOLEMAN, PUTNAM, MCCOLLUM

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 3/12/2004 at 11:45:53

Howard County Times June 15, 1871

SHOCKING AND FATAL ACCIDENT

Miss Mary Holman, daughter of Mrs. Putnam, of New Oregon and sister of Mrs. Dr. McCollum of Cresco, met with a fatal accident last Saturday, about 25 miles southwest from Cresco, where she was teaching school, the particulars of which are given in a communication in another column. It is the most shocking affair we have heard of in many a day.

FATAL ACCIDENT

Dear Times:--The most terrible and heart rending accident I was ever called upon to notice, occuried near the farm of Gen. Jones, about three miles south of here, last evening about 4 o'clock.

A very amiable and well beloved young lady by the name of Martha Holeman, who has been teaching the school in Mr. Peihn's district, left her boarding place on horseback to ride a short distance upon some errand. The horse was soon after seen galloping over the prairie riderless, with the saddle turned beneath. Search was soon make and the lady was found in the most bruised and mangled situation, and yet she breathed a few times after found.

By the appearance it seems the horse became frightened and threw her off with her foot fast in the stirup, and had she been dragged upon the ground it would have been shocking enough to relate, but far worse than this. When thrown she was beside a rail fence and was thrown upon that side, so for a great many rods she beat the fence at every bound of the horse. Stakes and even rails were torn from their places. She was thrown against them with such violence that nearly every bone in her system was broken.

Truely may we exclaim, Oh, cruel death to thus deprive us of one so universally beloved, one whose prospects in life were so flattering and the only bright spot in the gloomy picture is that Martha was prepared to go. She had chosen the Savior for her friend while in health and may we not all by this sad event see the importance of making this choice for we know not the day when death cometh.

I believe her mother and some other relatives reside in New Oregon. They have the hearty sympathies of the entire community.

D. E. Potter
Howard, June 11th, 1871