The Horse That Died for Morgan

Yesterday I mentioned that a horse had been killed at the Ainsworth crossing in 1899. The horse belonged to Morgan Blachly, a Ross township farmer who was about 49 years old at the time of this incident. He made it to 50 because of his horse.

On the morning of Wednesday, September 13, 1899, Morgan Blachly drove his horse and buggy to the store in Ainsworth, and when he finished his business there, he got back in the rig and drove north on State Road 51.

Perhaps he was so busy being impressed by the newly graveled road that he wasn't paying attention to anything else. As his rig started over the Grand Trunk crossing, Morgan suddenly realized that an express freight train was bearing down on him, seconds away. In a panic, he yanked on the reins as hard as he could. The horse instantly responded, not only stopping but backing up, pushing the buggy off the track and placing itself in the train's path.

The horse was struck and killed. Morgan was thrown out of the buggy onto the ground. Although he was bruised and battered painfully enough that he had to be carried home, nothing was broken and he recovered quickly.

The report makes no mention of the horse's name.

Sources:
♦ 1900 Census.
♦ "Narrowly Escaped Death." Hobart Gazette 15 Sept. 1899.