Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-22
.BERTIE'S RIDE.
An Extraordinary Runaway Yesterday
and Remarkable Escape from Injury of
u Small COlOred Boy.

An Extraordinary Runaway Yesterday
and Remarkable Escape from Injury Of
Small COlOred Boy.
Beneath the brown skin of the little colored
boy, BERTHE Liverpool, is the stern stuff that
heroes are made Of. He was the central figure
yesterday afternoon in thrilling episode, and
such an admirable exhibition of simple cour-
age has rarely if ever been witnessed in st.
Paul. The exciting accident, an account of
which is herewith given, had its initial or
starting point on West Fifth street, and
terminated in the waters of the miniature lake
which lies between Washington street and the
railroad track on the upper levee
1t happened about o'clock in the afternoon
and must have been witnessed by 500 people.
AT that hour the boy was seated IN his faith
er's truck, which had backed up to get load
of furniture on Fifth street above the city
hall.
|. While awaiting the return of his father, n
party of mischievous young rascals pelted
the horse with stones, which so frightened
the animal that he started to runaway The
boy, who is II years old, jumped for the lines,
but could not exert strength enough TO con-
troll the horse.
The horse ran down Fifth street, and at the
junction OF Washington street an Intellectual
effort was made to stop him. At the corner
OF Market street he turned north, running to
Sixth street, and thence west again to Wash
lngton street. where he turned south; his rate
of speed was increased with each Jump, and
he whirled around the corners with frightful
rapidty. In passing City hall dozen men
jumped out to stop him, but it was no use;
cries of get him co." Jump OUT" and other
notes of warming we've given, but the boy
never let up on the lines. The rig turned down
Fourth street running to Market street, out
that street to Third, and across to Hill street.
At this juncture the rig was making better
time than karus yer dreamed OF, and thrill
of horror passed through ihe crowd as they
contemplated the almost certain death of the
boy, whDNwas tumbled around The wagon al
each turn, as If he had been football. Shouts
OF save yourself were given, but he wasn't
that kind of haIrpin. Down Hill street they
went, horse and boy, at the speed of the flying
Dutchman. At the foot of Hill street was IL
horse and truck belonging to Michael Hanla-
hon. A collision was inevitable, and everyone
thought the game was up. The teams came
together with II crash, and the next second
both rigs were flying out Washington street
with locked wheels.
On nearing Eagle street Hanlahan's wagon
ran INTO telephone pole, which it snapped
like pi stem, but the shock separated the
wagons. The boy Was knocked galley-wesl,
Out he sun clunS 10 the rlDDOuS. Gut wash
ington street the rig continued 10 run, followed
by an immense crowd OF citizens. On the east
side Of the street, about fifteen feet below its
level, is an obung body of deep water Al
this point infant was at play.
In the excitement the CHILD was not
noticed until right in the teeth of danger.
Someone saw the chill and yelled; man
named Higgins jumped in front 9f tn: run
| away and snatched the child; the action served
a twoioli benefit.
Just as Mr. Higgins rushed out the horse
started to one side and went over an embark
ment In the descent the boy was lhro wn out
and alighted gently on the soft earth. The
horse went into the water and managed to
keep his head up till rescued. The wagon was
taken out but slightly damaged land the plucky
boy was the hero of the hour.