A Close Call

FARRELL

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/18/2012 at 08:06:51

Maquoketa Record, February 23, 1897

A Close Call

R. R. Farrell was driving his horse and buggy with his little son in the vicinity of Mill Creek, when suddenly he heard a dull thud and his horse dropped as quickly as if struck by a thunderbolt. Mr. Farrell sprang out of his buggy with the boy, and found his horse had been shot and the ball had struck the horse's spinal column near the base of the brain. It was later learned a man had shot at a hawk with a .32 caliber rifle about a half a mile distant. The ball from the rifle passed within a few inches of Mr. Farrell's head, which was a close call, surely.