A Fatal Accident on the Reed Ranch
A farmhand meets a tragic end while watering a horse on a Horse Heaven ranch.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
John Morrison, a farmhand who has resided in this section for several years, was dragged to death by a horse on the Reed ranch in Horse Heaven about five o'clock yesterday evening. The body was brought to the Mueller undertaking parlors this afternoon by E. A. Ferrell and J. S. Decker. Mr. Morrison was employed by Wash. Hettinger, who is farming the Reed place. The two men had been working together during the day, and in the evening, Morrison started to water one of the work horses. Not stopping to untie the halter rope, he slipped it from the hitching post and then passed the noose around his wrist. The horse became frightened and dragged Morrison to his death. Mr. Hettinger, who witnessed the accident, attempted to rescue the man but in vain. Little is known of the dead man's past life or relatives. It is understood he has a sister living at Cherry Vale in the western part of the state. He was about 50 years of age and unmarried.
“The horse became frightened and dragged Morrison to his death.”
Accidents involving work animals were common hazards in the agricultural history of Benton County. Today, the Horse Heaven Hills remain a vital, albeit rugged, farming landscape, though the risks have shifted from livestock to modern machinery.
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