Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-06-20
A HORsE.CATcHER.
A Record to BE Proud Of, and Which
Should BE Rewarded.
Syracuse IN. " Courier.

For the past eight or ten years the
public has from time TO time read OF
the daring exploits of Mr.. James Find
ley, of this city, whose prowess has won
for him the sobriquet of "The Horse
Catcher" During his residence in
Syracuse he has caught over 200 run
away horses, saving many lives by bis
daring efforts and much property from
destruction. Mr.. Findley is modest
and unassuming young man, born in
the City Of Albany, who came to SYRIA
cuse some eighteen years ago. AL
though only % years old. he has wife
and family, and has served five years at
his trade as carriage painter. About
twelve years ago Mr.. Findley COM
menced the business Of catching run
away horses. He was somewhat timid
at first, Ms may be imagined, but he
gained confidence in himself as he sue.
ceeded and experimental, and now
does not hesitate to throw himself in
the pathway of the most Infatuated
steed in its headlong runaway career.
Findley's first experience as horse
catcher was in the City of Auburn. He
was waiting for a tram in the vicinity Of
the depot one afternoon twelve years
ago, when all at once his attention was at
tracted by runaway horse, which was
dashing towards him at break-neck
pace. In the wagon were seated lady
and her little child. The mother was
paralyZed with fear and could not speak.
The little child screamed in terror, and
the cheeks of the bystanders were
blanched rs they saw the frightened,
maddened horse dashing furiously to-
wards train Of cars that stood across
the street. The spectators all rushed
out Of the way, and hackmen and dray-
men ran to place of safety. Findley
saw in an instant that the occupants Of
the wagon would be killed if they were
| thrown against the train Of cars. With
out hesitating n moment he planted
himself directly in front of the madden
ed beast and sprang like n cat ut its
head. He threw the horse down, and,
although the wagon was overturned, the
occupants were uninjured, save by mere
scratches. Since then he has thrown
himself in the way of and stopped hun
dreds of horses under circumstances
equally rs dangerous. His method Is as
follows: When he sees IL runaway
horse approaching ne plants himself di-
rectly in its route, and runs with 1t in
the same direction il is proceeding.
Findley can run like deer, and by
the time the runaway horse IL abreast
of him, nine times out of ten he is
running NJ fast as the horse is. To
seize him by the check-rein or one line
and bring him to II halt is but the work
of an instant. OF course his act is
fraught with great danger, and he may
be said to take his life in his hands
every time he attempts to stop n horse.
Ii ID known that II runway horse Is
blinded,-5y rage, it il supposed, or by
fear, and Findley's life would not he
worth much if the maddened animal
were to hit him with its iron shoe. He
has received no official reward for his
valiant services, and in many instances
the greed of those whose lives he has
saved has so ovcrmpstered them that
| they have forgotten all about the bray
cry Of the man who rlsked his lite to
save theirs. The horse-catcher is
always on the lookout. Three-fourths
of the runaways are caused by the
horses of countrymen. They are easily
frightened, and ~ II general thing their
harness il old and unsafe. Ladies' who
are driving in the streets are in constant
danger from being run into by frighten-
ed horses from the country. The
horse-cateher travels around the
business streets and carefully looks
over all the country horses that are
hitched, examining their fasten-
ings to seelt they are secure. In many
instances he has found horses hitehed
with weak or broken straps, and, keep
ing his eye upon them, has seen them
watch their opportunity and start to
run. But he was there in time to head
them Off. He studies the disposition
of the horse, and can tell by his eye or
his uneasy and restless manner that he
il watching the first opportunity to run
away.
Perhaps the bravest act of his life
was performed on the 9Th Of May last.
A team of young horses was running ut
breakneck speed down West Genesee
street and across tho market in front of
the Empire House directly towards the
Syracuse Savings Bank. In an instant
more they would have plunged :nto.that
building. Findley saw them coming
and sprang in their path. He selzed
ono by the check rain and vauted upon
its back, lightly as cat. BY n super
human effort he succeeded in turning
the horses in their course, and brought
them down to the ground. The brave
act was witnessed by Patrick Lynch,
Esq, who determined that 1t should
not go unrcwarded. He therefore
caused handsome hro2e metal to be
struck of. upon which the decd was
commemorate in fitting terms, and
presented il to Mr.. Findloy. u seems
10 rs that the city authorities should
make some recognition of Mr.. Find
loy's services.
lnrcin.