When Sorrow Comes
213
Death of a Friend
The following paragraphs are taken from a letter written to Edson
and Emma White regarding an accident that took place near Avondale
College
.
On Monday morning I thought my family appeared unnatural.
Some strange shadow seemed to hang over them. In the morning Sara
and I drove to the station for Willie, but he did not come. Elder Gates,
who had spoken to the people in Wallsend Sunday evening, drove up
with us from the station, and Sara took him to the school, bringing
back with her Elder Daniells and Brother Hare. Sara told me that these
brethren would like to speak with me. I had a few words with Elder
Daniells about the work in Maitland, and then Brother Hare drew his
chair up close to mine and said he had something to tell me. Then
he told me that the evening before an accident had occurred near the
school.
Sister Peck, Miss Gates, and Sister Boyd’s daughter were driving
from Sunnyside to the school with a horse which we have always
considered safe and manageable, though awkward. If we did not
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watch her while driving, she would turn to one side. The road to the
school is not a permanent one, but is laid out for present use until a
better [one] can be made. Under the management of Elder Haskell,
the schoolboys made a log bridge over the creek. As the trap neared
this bridge, those in it saw that a tree had fallen across the road, and
Sister Peck, who had the lines, thought she would get out and lead the
horse round it. But instead of standing still, the horse began to back,
and tried to turn round toward home again.
No one anticipated any danger. But they were nearer to the edge
of the creek than they supposed, and in a few seconds, the carriage
and those who were in it, except Miss Peck, were in the river, which at
that place is about fifteen feet deep. Sister Peck was thrown out on the
bank, and the carriage in its descent passed over her. But she was not
much hurt. She helped Ella Boyd out of the water, but Miss Gates was
beyond their reach. Ella Boyd ran to the school and called out the men,
and in about three minutes they had the body of Miss Gates out of the
water. They carried her to the school, and did everything possible to
restore her, but without success. She was dead. It is believed by all
that she did not die from drowning, for she made no struggle to save