A Dear Horse's Fatal Kick

1878

The Lewiston (Me.) Journal tells the following story: "A gentleman from North Lexington, Mass., who formerly resided in this county, tells us of a singular circumstance which occurred recently in that town, in which a man was actually 'kicked to death by a dead horse." It seems the man's horse had died, a grave had been dug for the animal's body, and, with the assistance of another man, the owner was proceeding to lower the body to its final resting place. As it reached the edge of the cavity, it accidentally lurched over, one of the animal's hoofs caught in the frock which the man wore and threw him over the beast, headforemost, into the hole, where he struck upon, his head, breaking his neck."

Comment: This would be a better story if there were an "old gypsy" who said the horse would be the man's death. So he is cautious and kills the horse to make the curse impossible to fulfill. Then as he's burying the horse, the hoofs catch the frock, etc. As it is, though, it's still pretty good. But he's not exactly "kicked" to death; the death only involves the feet, though not with any kicking behind them.