The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-20
ACCIDENT ON KING STREET:
A Grocer's Horse on tho Rampage
Everything Smashed-Tho Flyin
Fashton-CIearfng tho Sidewalks.


afternoon an accident took place IN King
street which came near killing or woundlDg
l, .ge number of persons. Mr.. g. L. Osten-
dorf. grocer in King stree. two doors above
George, had sent his wagon up town 10 charge
ofhis porter, colored man named George, 10
deliver certain goods. Drawing the wagon
was a spirited bay horse, but lately bought,
which George suspected OF ugly tricks and
watched closely. At Calhoun street he at
tempted to turn the corner when the horse
became refractory and showed symptoms OF
kicking, which sent the cautious George
sliding safely to the ground through the back
of the wagon. Freed from all restraint, the
animal now started back down King street at
sharp trot. The futile attempts to stop him
quickened hisspace, and increased 1t to fast
gallop as he passed Beaufain, and to Wild
run by the time he reached Market. few
PAGES beyond this, the heavy wagon struck
the buggy of DR.. Wm. Huger, In front Of
DR.. Alfred Raoul's store. and smashed
the two outer wheels. The servant, however,
managed 10 restrain his horse, and thus pre-
vented another runaway. The grocer's horse,
now. thoroughly frightened, dashed on, and at
the corner OF Princess street came full against
the ID apper team Of the Wheeler d Wilson
Sewing Machine Company. An ominous
crash ensued, and the next moment
the Wheeler & Wilson vehicle, was Knocked
into cooked hat, the horse was lying upside
down in the street, and the heavy grocer's
wagon flew off at tangent against stone
post ON the opposite side. This obstacle
smashed the wagon and stopped the horse
with Jerk: The street was now alive with
excited people, and numbers rushed forward
to secure the horse. The latter, however,
following Mrs. Chicks advice, made "a des-
perate effort" and rushed off with the shafts
and two fore wheels of the vehicle. Avoiding
his pursuers, he took obliquely to the right
of the street, and tore down heavy timber
awning in front of Mr.. Hoffman's store. The
tImbers were hurled out in the street,
and the runaway now crossed over
Merket street and LETT the wheels and
slngIetree, which dalgled at his heels,
against the post in front of Eckels apothecary
store. The shouts of the. crowd, the rushing
10 Gu6 SlTctb u0oie, ui1u eu0 oetoAhPtS w o'oP
him goaded the animal to desperation, and
making for wagon In front Of Mr.. G. D.
Ahren's store the annihllatioR of both seemed
imminent. he swerved to the left, however,
and to the dismay of all pedestrians and prom
enaders took to the sidewalk. 1t was just in
the most fashionable part of King street. The
sidewalks were crowded with shoppers, and
the manner In which they disappeared was
miraculous. The yelling on every side herald
ed the approach of the horse as we'll as his
Changing tread upon the smooth stones, and
like the host summoned into existence by
the call of Rhoderlck Dhu, bonnet and
plaid and plume sunk out of sight
behind stones, in doorways, and into
convenient stores. The horse swept on
up the sidewalk, aud kept it from Beaufain
up to Calhoun==:str He was allowed the
inside with remarkable alacrlly, and not
child even was hurt. At Calhoun he took the
middle of the street, and was secured some
distance up.
George was last seen wandering in blank
amazement up King street, and inquirlng
after his horse.