Person:Mary Wardwell (63)

"Tragic Termination to a Pleasure Drive. Miss M. W. Blood Thrown out and killed at Brattleboro. Four of Her Companions Seriously Injured. Harness Broke Going Down a Steep Hill. Victim a School Teacher with Home at Auburndale. BRATTLEBORO,May 14-The 800 girls in the Moody school at East Northfield are mourning the death tonight of Miss Marianna W. Blood. 28 years old, one of their dearly beloved teachers. Another or the corps of teachers, Miss Clara M. Burt of Plainfield, N J, 25 years old, is fatally injured and not expected to live the night out. Three other companions, Miss Mary Blood, 45 years old, aunt of the young lady who was killed; Miss Anna McNeilly, 23 years, and Miss Mary E. Wardwell, 24 years, are seriously injured. This is the result of a terrible accident on Cemetery hill in Brattleboro. The young ladies had left the school at Northfield on a pleasure trip this morning, and Miss Blood was driving the spirited pair of bays owned by Fred Caldwell of Northfield. She had driven them often before. They drove until they had reached the cascade near the Port Dummer farm, about a mile south of here. At this romantic spot they ate their lunch, as happy a party as could be found. They then started for Brattleboro, but before they had gone far a part of the harness connecting with the pole broke. They were able to reach the house of Benj. Davis, a little farther on, who repaired the break with a piece of rope. but cautioned the girls that it was not safe to drive into the village with the broken harness. But they merely said, "we'll risk it," and drove on. All went well until they reached Cemetery hill, just overlooking Brattleboro. Miss Blood was driving, and as soon as they began the descent the rope snapped, the carriage ran on to the heels of the horses, and they plunged down the hill at a terrible speed. About half way down the decline there is a sharp angle in the road. The carriage struck a stone by the roadside. Miss Blood and all four of her companions were shot out in an instant. The head of the unfortunate girl struck an iron grating covering a sluiceway. Her neck was broken and her features were mutilated beyond recognition. Her four companions fell over her In a bunch. Miss Burt received internal injuries, Miss Blood, the aunt, received a broken arm. Miss Wardwell has a broken elbow and Miss McNeilly was severely injured. D. L. Moody and Miss Hall, principal of the school, reached town by the first train after the accident, but there was little that they could do. Miss Blood's home Is in Auburndale, near Boston. Her aunt Miss May Blood, was matron at East hall, and her home was in Auburndale. Miss Wardwell's home is in Berlin, N H, and Miss McNeilly was a nurse living in Northfield. -The Boston Globe 15 May 1894

1910 census shows 1 child born and living.

1. ↑ 1870 United States Census for Gorham, Coos, New Hampshire; Roll: M593_839; Page: 77; Image: 157.