Weird Tales/Volume 4/Issue 2/Fatal Misfortune and Singular Instance of Affection in a Horse
Fatal Misfortune and Singular Instance of Affection in a Horse
"A SHORT time ago, Mr. Ellar of Oswaldkirk, and Mr. R. Marshall, son of Mr. Marshall, of East Newton, near Helmsley, being on a visit to Mr. Hesseletine, of Hambleton, and having spent a pleasant day, the latter intimated his intention of returning home that night, having promised to do so on account of his mother’s indisposition. Fearless of danger, and little thinking it would be for the last time, he bade them good night and rode off. On the afternoon of the next day, Mr. Ellar returned, and called at Mr. Marshall’s to inquire how his friend got home and how he was after his journey. Young Marshall’s absence beyond the time fixed for his return had created some little uneasiness; but the effect of these inquiries of his friend and the companion of his visit, can scarcely be conceived; it was natural to indulge alarm; and alas! their forebodings were more than realized. Persons were dispatched in every direction in search of him, but the family were kept in suspense another night. Intelligence of his being missed had reached Hambleton House, from whence early on Tuesday morning, a party set out to examine every possible place of danger and before they had proceeded a quarter of a mile, they discovered his horse standing over him, at the bottom of a precipice from twenty to thirty yards in height, over which they had fallen. The force with which he had come to the ground had made an impression upon it and from the appearances, it was thought he had never moved after his fall but had died instantly. One circumstance deserves remark; the party who had found him attempted to lead the horse from the place in a direction the most easy of ascent. From its unwillingness or inability they could not succeed, but on their ascending the steep with its master, who had been placed in a sheep-box for that purpose, it immediately followed him, and on reaching the summit dropped down dead beside him. It was at first surmised that this melancholy accident had been occasioned by intemperance, but it appeared clearly in evidence before the Coroner, that the report was unfounded, and that the accident had been altogether owing to the extreme darkness of the night, and the very intricate and unprotected nature of the roads across those dreary heights.—York Courant."