March 9, 2018
This is “Our Past Is Present” from
the Geary County Historical Society.
Try to imagine this is March of
1878. There are no cars, streets are not
paved and horses were the primary means of transportation. Now imagine you are standing near the corner
of Fifth and Adams Streets in Junction City and this happens….
There
was a fatal stampede of a two horse team belonging to E.W. Biggs of Junction
City in March of 1878. The team was tied
to a post at the back of the residence of J.C. Smith near Centennial Hall,
which was located on the corner of Fifth and Adams Streets. It was said the horses were frightened at the
bolting of another horse that had broken loose and was dragging the post to
which it had been tied. The team snapped
their halters and ran through the alley to Fifth Street and took the road toward
the ferry on the Smokey Hill River. When
they arrived at the river, the animals stopped, but the slippery bank and the
speed of the wagon caused them to be forced
into the water. The water was
probably 15 to 20 feet deep. The horses
were immediately drowned. The wagon bed
floated and was soon recovered by men working at the bridge near the mill. Later in the day the bodies of the horses
were seen as they rose to the surface of the water and were recovered. The horses were probably worth $200.00 and were
a great loss to Mr. Biggs, their owner.
A
comparison today which might be similar would be if a person’s car is left
unattended and for some reason rolls into the river or lake. It may be the owner’s only form of
transportation, which would also be a great loss.
Well
… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County
Historical Society.
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