Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-09
The EpizO0tic in Titusville, Pa.---Ter-
rible Results.

We have thought all along since the
horse epidemic began to rage that there
would be trouble from hitching up oxen,
men, boys and goats, who had never been
properly trained to this kind of work,
and now we are called upon to notice a
series ofrunaway accidents that occurred
in town Yesterday, by which much prop
erty was destroyed and lives endangered.
We hope it will never be our duty to again
chronicle such horrible chapter of de-
struction.
THE FIRST OUTBREAK
occurred at the head of Franklin street
yesterday morning, about eight o'clock
1t seems that Mr.. Pumpjerker, one of the
numerous milk dealers who supply GER
tain of our citizens with Colored material
for their coffee and tea, was coming in
from his dairy with his hand-cart filled
with milk cans, and lowing to the cpl
hipic) drawn by two sorrelheaded hired
men, one young and spirited fellow who
had not been worked in harness but three
days, and the other an older beast, with
wind gals on his head, and blind in the
off eye. Mr.. Pumpjerker was pushing
behind, not dreaming of danger, when,
Just as the team turned from Brook street,
they caught sight of several cows, and
not being familiar with such animals be-
came affrighted and dashed off down
Franklin street at fearful rate. The
hand cart was upset near the corner of
Walnut street, but the now thoroughly
maddened team soon kicked themselves
loose from the wreck, and with the tugs
tapping about their legs fled out on the
Pleasantville road, where they were
stopped by saloon keeper who held a
couple of cocktails in front of them. Mr..
Pumpierker's loss was about six dollars,
mostly for tin-ware and wasted chalk.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT.
A Swede man, who was attached to a
red wheelbarrow, while trotting down
Spring street yesterday forenoon, became
frightened at the feet of young man
who was having his boots BACKED in
front of the American Hotel, and before
the bystanders could stop him ran away
at breakneck speed toward Monroe street.
A man in front of the Parshall House
yelled, and threw club at the frightened
man, but it only accelerated the runa-
ways progress, and he broke into such a
gait that he broke gate near the corner
Of Spring and Perry streets, and left the
WheelbarrOw wreck. At last accounts
the frightened Swede had not been cap
to his native land
NOBLE EXPLOIT.
An old farmer came to town yesterday,
driving his two sons, who are about ten
hands high, with white spots in their
fOreheads where their hats wear the dirt
off, and hitched to d light wagon filled
with frost bitten pumpkins, decayed po-
tatoes, stove wood and other luxuries
peculiar to this country. Just as they
were opposite the dry goods store on
Spring street, several handsome young
ladies came out, and William became
frightened, and began kicking, which
alarmed his companion, and, Selling the
bits in their teeth, the team started to-
ward the post-Office, the wagon striking
against telegraph poles, awningposts and
other distractions, throwing the driver
out, and causing stove-wood and vegeta-
tables to rain upon the heads of the peo-
pie on the sidewalks in great profusion
A policeman tried to stop them at the
corner of Washington street, but his noise
and gestures only frightened the team the
more, and they turned north up Washing
ton street, leaving the wagon-box and
hind wheels behind. School was just out
for noon, and the path Of the runaways
was filled with children, and it seemed as
if several lives must be lost but at this
juncture daring livery horse, who was
out with his throat in a sling, saw and
comprehended the situation, and man
aged to throw himself in front of the run
ming men, seized them by the coat tails
with his mouth, and succeeded in check
ing their career, but not until the noble
The father of the rllnaways came up and
oh Of &c of off
to treat the horse who had stopped them
to bran mash or brandy smash and the
latter merely shook his head and disap-
peared down an alley leading to his barn.
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF A CHILD.
Yesterday child of John Macgudgeon,
the gentlemanly pig butcher and importer
of sausage meat, who lives on Canine
avenue, was riding down Martin street,
drawn by dark bay servant, when
couple of poorly fed, gaunt looking chaps,
hitched to grocer's delivery wagon,
turned the corner suddenly and threw
kiss at the dark bay, causing her to shy
and upset the baby cart, throwing the
occupant to the ground right in front of
the grocer's team. A lady who saw the
occurrence gave shrek so loud and
shrill, that it saved the life of the child,
for the two men hitched to the delivery
wagon heard it, and thinking it was the
noon whistle of the Titusville Manufac-
turing Company, by a strong effort check
ed their speed when within two feet or
feet of the infant, aud wheeling around
went to dinner. The promptness with
which these men cease work and 60 to
meals in this case availed something.
ONLY ONE MORE.
Yesterday afternoon a gentleman who
lives upon the Pleasantville road, hitched
up his old grandfather, just as he had
twenty times since the horse disease visit
ed this section, and drove into town to
do little marketing and shopping The
old man was foundered about forty years
ago by eating warm meal on washing
day, and it was nearly four o'clock before
they reached town, when the driver, Mr..
Ferguson, drove up in front of grocery
store, and after hitching his grandfather
to the awning post, went into saloon to
see if there had been any decline in beer
since the Boston fire. For some minutes
the horse-we mean the grandfather
stood quietly, but becoming restless Che
had not been blanketed), allowed his eyes
to wander around until he saw in front
of him basket of pears, in which was
stuck placard inscribed lone for
quarter-or $1S by the peck" The price
SO startled the venerable old man, who
wasn't used to city customs, that with a
wild snort of fear, he broke his halter
strap, kicked himself loose from the We
hicle, and galloped toward Pleasantville,
running over two livery horses near the