4 teenage girls and a 21 year old take his buggy out for a sunny church Sunday afternoon joyride. What could happen!?

To condense the report from the Marshalltown Iowa Times-Republican: Mr. Dawson drove up with his buggy, to which was hitched a pony. The young ladies thought they would fancy a ride, and the four, with Dawson started up the road for a short distance. The wind caught the hat of Miss Drury, who was driving, and the horse frightened, turning suddenly. To make matters worse, the road had just been worked and was rough and furrowed. The buggy began to tip, and Miss Drury was thrown out. Dawson tried to reach the reins, and in so doing knocked Miss Lora Specht out...

Everyone survived more or less. Poor Mr. Dawson was deemed unlucky as in his final act of picking up the reins the horse kicked him cutting a bad gash on his head and breaking his arm.

In the responsible party’s defense it should be known that these were not city folk. Being accustomed to farm life, would it be unusual for a country girl to occasionally operate a Buggy with the close supervision of a man? He would be accountable and right there beside her to coach. Tragically, for his effort, he failed to procure favor with any of the girls; of that I’m sure.

Preceded by the wayward hat and the ensuing shrieking when the horse bolted, there was an element of surprise which was compounded by the unforgivable chaotic reaction of dropping the reins. This was an element of panic — and certainly for the Pony.

These animals are easily spooked by such things and a ladies straw hat passing peripherally would do the deed. (blinders for the beast?) This suggests that there was a breeze coming from behind. I don’t think that they were reckless. Had they been speeding (before the event) the unsecured hat would have disappeared aft rather than in the direction of the stead.

The seating configuration of the buggy is not known but since the story does not reference a carriage model we can assume that there was only one bench style seat on which they all lined up abreast.

Having all 5 aboard could have been unwise. Realize that there wasn’t much to grasp onto. Seat belts? Nope. Max Seating Capacity placard non-existent. Fault or negligence would have been reasoned by the families as opposed to insurance companies or lawyers. These were simpler times…

No Police report, just the recounting in the newspaper story of peril and what could possibly go wrong!