The Portland daily press., 1890-09-15
LITTLE PENNIES WILD RUN.
A Chicago Bows Thrilling Expert
ence as Part OF a Gable Car
system.
[St. Louis Republic

Little Henry Altenberg, who lives
with his,parents at the. corner of West
Madison street and Western avenue,
Chicago, nearly. lost his life. as the re-
suit Of scientific experiment which he
had carried beyond the bounds of per-
sonal safety.
Since the new street car cable on
Madison street has been running chill
dren have discovered that strong cur
rent of air is continually working down
through the slit in the road. Acting on
this discovery many of them have
amused themselves tying a piece of paper
at one end of string and an old tomato
can or similar article at the other. Lay
ing the piece of paper on the slit, they
soon had the satisfaction Of seeing it dis
appear under ground, where the string
became wound around the cable, and in
moment or two their delight would
be intensified by seeing the tomato can
go rafting down the street.
Little Henry Altenberg, however, Is
of a reflective turn, and he figured it out
that if he tied rope around his waist
he would be able to stop the cable when
the slack of the line would be hauled
taut, as the lake mariners say. Other
boys might fasten cans to the creeping
Gable, but such advertisement was too
tame for him.
Burning up to his mothers rooms at
S03 West Madison street, he quietly and
the family bed. Fastening it about his
middle he tied to the other end piece
of paper. Running down into the street
he dangled the paper into the cable tun-
mel His scientific ideas had been well
conceived. The currents of air that
swished down the dark passage whirled
the paper about until the rope wound
round and round the cable. Then his
wild career began.
Men, women and children, and the
West End gentlemen who wear silk hats
and sack coats spontaneously were soon
awe stricken at the figure the boy was
cutting. He pranced down the track
like yearling colt around blue grass
pasture His soiled shirt futtered in the
breeze and his hat flew off. But he did
not stop to pick it up. He couldn't. He
him with the cable system and sped on
and on. Then he lifted up his voice,
swelled his lusty lungs and yelled wild
ly. People generally shouted, "Heyw
at him, and several thoughtful ones
asked him if 1t hurt much, but he only
galloped on. He was devoting his whole
thought to the scientific investigation he
was conducting at such a rapid gait and
with such flattering success.
He had started up at Leavitt street at
2:10 p. m. At 2:12 he flashed by Hoyne
avenue. At 2:13t he had gathered speed
and was cantering across Seeley avenue.
AT 2:14 two men, seeing the boys pre-
dicament, rushed out to bear him ON his
way. One of them tried to Jerk the rope
away, but could not. Then they began
to call for knives. There was a dearth
Of knives along Madison street just then
and none was forthcoming. More mon
Joined in the exciting chase, but Hennie
led them all by several laps. Soon the
intense excitement of the situation was
beginning to tell ON him, when at 2. 141
he made Robey street, and he was pant
ing for breath. Still men shouted and
women screamed. The boy Joined in
and swelled the high refrain. But he
could not break away, and, though re-
luctantly, he madly sped on.
The end came finally. A. E. Allen, an
employe in paint store, rushed into the
street with huge knife, the only one
available along Hennie's entire right of
way, and trotting along by the boys
side hacked the rope in twain. Hennie
fell exhausted in his arms, and the thrill
ing scene was over. Several hundred
people stood gaping at the boy who had
made such sensation and tenderly in
quired if he were hurt But he disdain-
fully answered, "Nawr' Then big
blue backed project of police put the boy
under arrest. He was released presently,
and silently stole away to his home