"THE TRUNK OF THE ELEPHANT", EXETER, 1881.

On a Wednesday in August, 1881, the procession of Sanger's circus was passing along Exeter's High Street when  William Payne's cab drove out from Broadgate between the camels and the elephant.  The cab-horse reared high on his hind-legs and swung himself round on the pavement among the people, dragging the cab with him.  Three ladies were knocked down and one of them, Miss Mary Hill, aged 67, a schoolmistress, was rolled along the footpath for ten or twelve feet and the wheels of the fly passed over her chest. She was carried on a stretcher to the Turk's Head Inn where she died.  The police were of the opinion that no blame could be levelled at the driver and his horse.   

At the inquiry at The Papermakers' Arms, Exe-street:

"The Rev J.C. Rowlatt said that he and his family were in Payne's cab at the time of the accident, and, of course, he saw the whole of it.  He could substantiate the whole of what the policeman had stated, and he, too, maintained that it was a perfect accident.  The horse was not frightened at the camels but at the elephant; he passed the former without notice, but the trunk of the elephant alarmed him.

The jury unanimously returned a verdict of ' Accidental death,' and entirely acquitted the cabman of all blame." 

These days the heroes of Health and Safety might have saved the life of this unfortunate maiden lady but dampened, you can be sure, the joy of thousands. O the glory of the camels and the elephant waltzing up the High Street!  There is joy and bustle on the pavement.  No doubt there are musicians and flags processing..  The children are excited and perhaps even 67 year old Mary Hill is, for just a moment, a wondering child again   But death's chariot approaches from Broadgate at walking pace in the shape of William Payne's cabhorse with a cabful of Anglican passengers:  the family of the Reverend J.C. Rowlett.  The elephant is waving his trunk,  Truly, in the midst of life we are in death! 

We today might incorrectly say 'frightened by'. The Reverend Rowlett's 'frightened at' has elegance and logic to recommend it. 

Source: The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 5th August, 1881.