Mule fall through Bridge near Fayetteville

04 Jan Mule fall through Bridge near Fayetteville

October 1, 1918

Mule fall through Bridge near Fayetteville

On October 1, 1918, a petition for payment of $50 was presented to the Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenue of Fayette County by F. M. Norton, signed by E. P. Mize. N. P. Mr. Norton presented some interesting facts about the case. On July 29 he was driving his mule (a back mare about five years old and 14 hands high) hitched to a one horse wagon on a public road from Russell’s Mill to Fayetteville, about a mile and a quarter from Fayetteville, he came to a public bridge spanning Ginger Cake Creek. The bridge had no apparent defects, but the planks were old and rotten, a fact which was unknown to driver of said mule. As said mule quietly was crossing the bridge said bridge the planks gave way and broke, plunging said mule through the bridge and seriously injuring the same. Said mule was skinned and bruised about his knees, leaving scars and permanently injuring and damaging said mule such as to prevent further use or sale. Mr. Norton assessed the damage at $50, which included injury to the mule and loss of time (21 days) he sustained in using the animal.

By John Lynch

Sources Original Document (Fayette County Historical Society archives)