Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-28
A HOrSe.Catcher.

A RECORD TO PROUD OF, AND WHICH SHOULD
BE REWARDED.
For the past eight or ten years the public has
from time to time read Of the daring exploits of
Mr.. James Findiey, OF this city, whose prewess
Catcher" During his r, s de ace In Syracuse he
has caught over 201 runaway horses, saving
many lives by his daring efforts. and much
modest and I unassuminS Young mani u barn in
the city Of Albany, who came to syracuse
some eighteen years ago. Although only
twenty three years OLD, he has a vile aud
family, and has served five years at his trade
as carriage painter. About twelve years ago
young Findley commenced the business Of eaten
ing runaway horses. He was somewhat tirntd at
first, as may be imagined but he gained conf
dence In himself as he succeeded and expert
mented, and now does not hesitate 70 throw
himself In the pathway OF the most infuriated
leys first experience as a norse-catcher was In
the city Of Auburn. He was waiting for a train
In the vicinit! OF the depot one afternoon twelve
attracted by runaway horse which was dash
ing towards him at a 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 bianched
as they saw the frightened, maddened horse
stood across the street. The spectators all
rushed out Of the way, and hacknen and dray-
men ran TO place or safety. Ftndley saw in an
instant that the occupants OF the wagon would
be killed If they were thrown against the train
OF cars. Without heSltating moment he planted
himself directly In front OF the maddened beast
and sprang like cat at Its head. He threw the
horse down, and, although the wagon was over
turned, the occupants were uninjured, save by
mere SCI atches. Since then he has thrown him.
sell In the way OF and stopped hundreds OF
norseS under circumstances equally as dan
gerous. His method is as follows: When he
sees runaway morse approaching he plants
himself directly In its route, and runs with 1t
IN Inc same direction 1t Is proceeding. Flndley
can run like deer, and by the time the run
away horse Is abreast OF him, nine times out OF
ten, he Is running as fast as the horse is. To
seize him by the check-rein or one line and
bring him to halt is but the work OF an instant.
VI course his act Is fraught with great danger
ana ne may be said to take his life In his hands
known that runaway hopse Is blind by
rage 1t Is supposed or by fear,-and Findley's
ufe would not be worth much II the maddened
has received no Official reward for his valiant
services and in many instances the greed OF those
whose lives he has saved has SO overmastered
them that they have forgotten all about the
bravery OF the man who risked his life to save
theirs. The horse-catcher is always on the
lookout. Three-fourths OF the runaways are
caused Dy the horses OF cOuntrymen. They are
easily frightened, and as general thing their
harness Is old and unsafe. Ladies wno are
driving In the streets are in constant danger
from being run into by frightened horses from
The country. The horse catcher travels around
the business streets and carefully looks over an
the country horses that are hitched, examining
'ASh AoooChiHSS " Dec IL lucy are secure.
many instances he has found horses hItched
with weak or broken straps, and, keeping his
eye upon them, has seen them watch their OPP
pOrtunity and start to run. But be was there
In time TO head them OF. He studies the dispo-
sltlon OF the horse, and can tell by his eye or his
uneasy and restless manner that he Is Watc hing
the nrSt opportunity TO run away.
Perhaps the bravest act OF his life was.per-
formed on the It'll OF May last. A team OF
young horses was running at breakneck sbeed
Gown 3ios West Genesee street and across the mar
ket In front OF the Empire House directl7 TO-
wards the Syracuse Savings Bank. In as In
slant more they would have plunged into that
building. Findley saw them coming and sp1ang
In their path. He seized one by the check, rein
and vauited upon Its back lightly as cat. BY
superhuman effort he succeeded In tuIling
the horses in their course, and brought them
down to the ground. The brave act was wit
messed by Patrick Lynch, esq.,, who detern lned
mat It should not go unrewarded. He tsere.
fore caused handsome bronze medal ID be
struck of, upon which the deed was commamo-
rated In fitling terms, and presented 1t T., MI.
Findley. 1t seems to us that the city autsori-
ties sho1ld make some substantial recogEltion
Of MI. Findleys services.-[Syrac,se {N ~
Courier. ~