July 31 Sunday – Lee, Mass: Sam’s notebook: “LEE, Mass. / (Berkshire hills.). Last night the young people out on a moonlight ride. Trolly frightened Jean’s horse. Collision. Horse killed. Rodman Gilder picked Jean up,— unconscious; she was taken to the doctor, per the car. Face, nose, side, back contused; tendon of left ancle broken” [MTB 1224: NB 47 TS 17]. Note: Paine slightly altered the notebook entry, presented here.

Clara Clemens remembered:

Just before this accident happened I had been taken to a doctor’s house in New York [Parry] for examination, for my health had completely broken down under the strain of Mother’s long illness and the shock of her death. It was determined that I must resort to a life of rest and inactivity, avoiding all forms of excitement or worry, as I was considered to be seriously ill. When this dreadful thing happened to Jean, Father telephoned to my doctor in New York to warn him that the newspapers would be filled the following day with descriptions of Jean’s narrow escape and that on no account must I be permitted to see a single newspaper; Father himself would come to New York and gently break the news to me and explain that, although Jean was suffering much pain and misery, her life was not in danger and there was absolutely no cause for anxiety.

And now what really happened was this. I was lying in bed late in the morning when Father was announced with the explanation that he had come to New York on business. He entered the room and, after a brief greeting, handed me a newspaper with the headlines: “It is hoped that Mark Twain’s youngest daughter, Jean, may live. Her horse fell on her and crushed her.”

I read and reread the sentence, unable to feel anything but a sharp pain in my head. This couldn’t be true. Then slowly Father began to tell the story in his most feeling and dramatically impressive way.

It would have been interesting to know what kind of wheels were revolving in his mind, when his actions were so at variance with his intentions. But I never asked him. The dear man certainly intended to spare me a shock, and some strange spirit led him into contrary behavior [MFMT 256-7].

Note: the most likely sequence of events:

July 30: Jean’s late night tangle with the trolley.

July 31: Sam’s call to Clara’s doctor Parry.

Aug. 1: Sam’s trip to N.Y. to see Clara, who then left for Lee, Mass. to stay three days with Jean.

Aug. 4: Sam’s return to Lee; Clara left for New York.

See Yuran, p. 6 for a photo of Jean on crutches with her dog Prosper, taken a week or more after the accident.