The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-19
VOL. XLv.--N NO. 23l.
STRICKLAND'S FATAL RIDE.
R4RE SKILL AND TRUE COURAGE THAT
OUGTT TO HAVE TRIUMPHED.


Steam on the Elevated Rniiroad-PiunRinE
Through Forfy-second street-A Crash.
John Strickland, driver OF one Of the
largo road wagons of p. T. Barnum's circus.
took ont his matched team Of six glossy black
horses for exercise nt ~ o'clock Yesterday
morning. He had charge of the chariot rncing
horses in Barnum's Hippodrome in 1874 and
1875. and was ono Of the trusted drivers Tor
Montgomery Queen L. Il. Lent and other cir
Gus propri.tors He has several times crossed
the ocean having charge Of circus stock. Tom
Burnhnm, who drove with llinrover the Slerrn''
says that he was the best driver and tho whitcst
man ho ever knew. The horses that he drove
Yesterday had had nothing to do lately and had
hoo, we'll fed in anticipation OF hard work on
the heayy spring roads. The circus will begin
20 travel ON Sunday next Frank and Pilot the
lenders woigh over 900 each. and the wheel
ers weigh nearly 800.
While driving of some OF the super1uous
mette Of the horses. Strickland took occasion
TO go across town to his home at 52j West
Thirty-nnth street. TO bring over his personal
baggage preparatory to the start on Sunday.
On his way back he drove up Tenth avenue to
Forty y-second street. and then started the ami
mails on n gentle trot to cross town. As they
we're Just passing under the broad passenger
platform OF the Elevated Railroad depot at
Forty-socond street an up-train approached the
station. 1t had crept noiselessly up behind the
houses on the west side of the street. but Just
n the leaders got their heads out from under
the platform the engineer let of steam.
Herman Schimler. a grocer's boy. who was on
the corner says that the OIL leader turned his
neck like flash. and began TO paw the air and
hack down on the body horses. In IA second
they were all in tanglc and all rearing, The
driver Strengthened them out. and they dns he'd
M Forty second street as the train rumhled on
tl.,a tutt Az o N hat
columns that support the east track OF u. road.
cart stood in their way, but Strick land, having
the rcins in his hands. flung the horses to The
right. The heavy wagon swung up against the
curb. and the cart was unhurt. The horses
Strickland wore a high-crowned, black soft
hat. The wide brim lay back in front Ms he
hcld his head down against me & wind ana rn snwei
SNps, police ofllcer. who at irs thought lie was
I" ther t''tI Speed. Noticed hat his teeth were
clenched. II needed only second glance to
that the driver realized his danger. The hind
sparks followed them, The tires were three
inches wide and nearly rs thick. Had there
been u load on the wagon the brake would have
stopped the horses. As il was the wheels pound
wagon was surmounted by high blue box,
At Seventh avenue horse car was rumhling
shouted to the driver. and he put the whip on
his horses. and the circus wagon lust escaped
a asemielrcle; The tramp Of the SIX horses and
the rattle Of the wagon gave notice of its ap-
proash ana wndow Wre sse1 had W pns
30 far. The skill OF the driver enabled HIM 10
control his horses but II would have required
the strength Of many men to stop them
As far as Firth avenue thc way way had been u, up
tween the risk of making u wide turn into Filth
avenue and that of plunging down the grade Of
forty-second. street past the Grand Central
Depot. He chose the latter. evidently relying
on his skill to take his horses through the
throng of cab, and horse cars usually IN Fourth
but those who saw him say that he was perfectly
cool and held the reins magnihcenty
Opposite the west corner Of the depot is an
express Office. Some empty wagons stood in
front Of 1t. and Fourth avenue car was pess ing
and about to turn to the right INTO vanderbilt
feet but it was all that, strickland needed. He
turned the horses 70 the right and The wagon
toned at the depot sprang forward % stop the
runaway but one of them said. We, ,couldn 7
body horses were attached to the wagon by
traces only 1t would have been useless 10 stop
them. / II could have been done. II would only
have hastcned the catastrophe,
Strickland motioned the police officers away
with his head. Near the middle OF the street an
empty Fourth avenue ear was awaiting pRssen-
gers from the depot. He turned his horses n
little 10 the right and success fully avoided IT,,
hut right ahead he found the street harricaded.
Two Lexington avenue cars and one ot n line
of cross town cars stood side 10y side. with their
rear platforms in line with the east crosswalk
Of Fourth avenue. II ia the terminus OF the
two lines Strickland. after getting around the
Fourth avenue ear found himself on the ri right q
was no room At all Ia pass on that SIDE OF the
barrcadc OF horse cars. To the Lott OF these
cars there was u passage exactly 20 ieet wide.
To enter this passage the horses had to be
turned to the left 1T angle of about torty-ilye
sSS SSSrssS Succeeded n % Sonr arf Su thrr
beyond the point at which he began to turn.
srs are Eo ra w0 ior%bns by Sores rss GSS oyr
Fourth avenue horse-car route. are switched OF
into tho alley along the east side oi the depot.
The surface is little slanting. and the eastcrly
rail is high. 1t has a slight curve to the east
ward This rail caught the hind wheel of the
heavy wagon as il slowed around. The con-
cussion snapped the solid iron axe short of ut
the shoulder, where II enters the hub. The
iron hero is "a inches in diameter, The wagon.
thus broken. was dragged through the narrow
passage. grazing neither the curb nor the cars.
After Do had passed the cars the street was
open to him. but here Strickland encountercd
piece OF utterly wOrn-out paving. IL Is iilled
with hollOws from six inches 70 foot in depth.
the horses. after he Icss OF the wheel almost
flew over this place. Strickland was unsrated.
The end OF the broken axle also caught in the
rough pavement and added TO the difficulty. At
this time everybody in the busy neghborhood
tho depot was watching the, neryy driver.
The windows 81 the Grand Union Hotel We're
thrown w. and the occupants and customers, Of
shops all along the block ran out to the side
SESlEs SocE oh When ony quart way G I9Wn the the
Grand Union Rotel. strickland was seen 10
MAKE % an effort 10 get back into the box of the
Keep his scat He yet held the reins
IN BOTH hands. He was lolted, after lie
TOOK lis feet from the brake, some OF the. spec,
iaors say, foot in the air. suddenly he fell
forward OF the seat. lie came down on the
rump Of tho near horse, one foot striking the
wagon pole. lie bounded OF the horse back
ward and ie "n his bnri under the wagon.
Mr, Charles FINK aud o,ncrs who saw him
say that Strickland held fHst to the rens until
he disappearcd under the wagon. Alter it had
rolled over him It WIS found that one Of the
whres had eut away part of his skull killing
MN instantly.
The body was taken to the Thirty fifth street
police station and thence 10 the MorGuc.
Nhch the horses were near Lexington ave-
nue.. they encountered horse car that had Just
turneithe corner into Forty second street. They
went 10 the right and passed II safely. but were
crow i"d so far toward the curb that. alter pass
ing Lexington avenue. the right fore wheel was
snapped 0l by cOncussiOn against telegraph
pole ON the corner The traces broke and the
leaders and body horses ran on down TO Third
avenue Tho wheelers. Lushe and Tlge. are
d"'lGred hy eye-witnesses TO have made com
lI"ie somersaults When they regained their
e"' thcy ran free back toward the depot. The
hnrses were not hurt.
Strickland leaves a widow. but no children. He
WIS about i5 years Of ago.