COLE, William H.

BAD ACCIDENT

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Causes the Death of W. H. Cole at
Madison.

The Democrat announced last week that W. H. Cole had been fatally hurt at the Madison race track, but at the time of going to press the details had not been learned. Later information con­firmed the report. The accident occurred Thusday afternoon, which terminated in death at 2:30 o’clock Fri­day afternoon. The remains were brought to this city Saturday and con­veyed to his late home near Second Mr. Pleasant. Funeral services were held at the church Sunday morning conducted by Rev. P. O. Duncan. The Madison Courier gives the following detailed account of the accident:

W. H. Cole, a prominent stock dealer and turfman, residing near Franklin, in Johnson county, came in yesterday on the noon train to attend the fair and look after the interest of his horses. Among other animals, he owns Gipsy O., who has been racing here this week. Just before the close of the evening’s races yesterday, when Mandolin and Alonzo were preparing to run their last heat, Mr. Cole and Secretary Demaree, who had been in con­versation on the south side of the track, started across towards the amphitheatre on the north side. At the same instant the two horses, eager for the race, plunged for­ward and Mr. Demaree jumped out of the way. Mr. Cole, who is a very large man, was not so fortunate, and ap­parently got confused, and was run upon by the horse, Mandolin, and was hurled to the ground with almost the force of a canon ball. When the back of his head struck the ground it sounded like the blow of a sledgehammer, and the thousands of spectators thought he was killed outright. Quickly as possible Supt. Con­nolly, Secretary Demaree and others rushed to his aid and carried him, all unconscious, to the open field near the judges’ stand.

Dr. Copeland, of Bennington, made an examination and pronounced the injury of a serious nature, being a con­cussion of the brain. The sufferer was brought to the city and placed in the most comfortable room of the second floor of the Grand Hotel, where he re­ceived every attention, medical and otherwise, but all to no avail. Dr. Forsbee took charge of the case, with Drs. Davidson and Matthews as con­sulting physicians. Mr. Cole had not received con­sciousness up to noon, when his wife arrived on the train, and his death is likely to occur at any moment from hemorrhage of the brain.

The unfortunate man is quite well-to-do in this world’s goods. He has a wife but no children. He is an old friend of Capt. J. L. Hartley, by whom he is highly esteemed, and is much respected by all who know him. Geo. M. John­son, of Delaware, Ind., the rider of Man­dolin, is greatly grieved over the occurrence, though no blame can be attached to him.

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, August 23, 1895,
page 6 column 4

FROM OVER THE COUNTY

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CLARK’S MILL.

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The funeral and burial of the late Wm. H. Cole took place here Sunday. Rev. P. O. Duncan preached the funeral, which was attended by one of the largest crowds ever assembled at that place.

Link to William H. Cole’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady, Cathea Curry and Lois Johnson