At this time of year we frequently encounter icy roads in our cars or slippery sidewalks. But imagine the perilous nature of travelling on a brick street in a heavy wagon with a team of horses. On this date 100 years ago the Pantagraph told the story of a wagon travelling on Washington Street after a particularly nasty ice storm accompanied by a blizzard.
Tom and Jerry, two particular individuals of the horse tribe, were engaged in hauling a big loaded dray around the square and on West WAshington street. The pitiful spectacle they made as they slowly and cautiously proceeded inch by inch along the south side of the square, the while they were given steadying assurance by the driver, who had been caught off his guard by the unexpected change in the weather was enoughto take the eye of many pedestrians, who forgot their own troubles on noticing the trouble of the four footed friends. Even on the level ground it was a case of tottering on the brink of the predipice and when finally the tracks were crost at Center and Washington everybody stopt with heart in mouth, for it was a hundred to one bet that an accident was soon to arrive. And it did happen half way down the block. Tom, the less protected of the two, had been slowly sliding and slipping for a couple of rods, then, after a few seconds of strenuous acrobatics, down he went. but before the dray had rolled onton his he managed to scramble to his feet, only to have a few more seconds of agonized action before the final plunge was made. a helping number of hands and bodies helf back the oncoming dray, and finally, after some period of time, poor Tom and his partner were extracted from the confusions and led away to a nearby smithy.
The reporter went on to state that the blacksmiths were making bank that day because of all the sliding horses.
It is reassuring to know that everyone was concerned for the poor animals who were helpless in this situation. I also enjoyed the writing of this particular reporter, but it was seldom that a reporter was credited for his work. A modern day farriers (blacksmith) page had information about the special shoes that were used in the wintertime: http://www.americanfarriers.com/articles/474-cool-shoes-for-ice-and-snow
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