New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-22
A Young HERO OF THE G UTTER.
HOW A YOUNG BooTBLACK STOPPED DANGER
Gus RUNAWAY on THE BRIDGE.

Gus RUNAWAY on THE BRIDGE.
~Dinc. ding. ding" rang the electric gong at the
New York terminus Of the Brooklyn Bridge Ju't AT
the busiest hour Of afternoon last week. Nearly
all in the great throns that pouring into the on
trance turned their heads they heard the mpc"ouS
note OF warning What was this gongi WHY was
il sounded Few in the crowd knew but instinct
velv they seemed to feel that something serious had
occurred Instantly the policeman whose duty II Is
IN watch the carriage exit al the northern side o the
terminus had run 10 the strongly constructed gate
thrown back against the building and had unias'cned
IL ready for closing.
Then the word passed ats a runaway on tho
Bridge. and it's coming this way -
In another minute the crowd, sprlngng up as u
were from the ground. blocked Park Row several
policemen strove vanly to keep the people back from
The end Of the driveway Necks were craned ana eyes
were strained 10 catch a glimpse Of the horse ana
wagon which was Just coming into view at the Top %
the long stretch of paved approach 20 the Bridge
Here he comes - was the cry from a Thousand
throats and people involuntarly drew back a II l"
avoid the crash which might come later on Iic
horse IL could be was on dead run bn' so la'
away was he that he only seemed 10 be moving slowly
Then il could be seen that Young man SAL ln '"'
drivers seat and held the rens His feet were hrmiV
hraced against the foothcaM. his lips We're sell anu
he was exerting all hi, strength 10 stop me man
onrrsh Of the horse. But the incline is steep th'
animal had evidently 4" lost his head and wa now
dashnc to his certain destruction in an excess Of mad
terror. The policeman, with his hand on the gate
began slowly close IT, II was his intention shonh
the animal not be stopped. TO shut It IN his ia'c'
People began picture to themselves the crash, and
turned away their heads in horror. There was pr"
found silence in the awe,truck crowd broken only bS
disconnected excamation,, and above All the I'm.
fortunate ding, ding, ding Of the gong.
Down the long incline came the frightened steed'
his black coat bespattcrcd with foam, and s"ayed
from side TO side by the frantic efforts Of the Young
driver slacken nj, gait In some Of these lurche'
the horse and narrowly missed striking inc
teams drawn up al the sides OF the driveway. From
a cab standing a few hundred feet MP the driveway
could be heard the hystcrical screams ~ woman.
Still the horse had not slackcned his speed. The
policeman closed he gate and the crowd drew back, a.
Il impellcd by one Will, holding its breath.
The horse had reached the stone bausiradc that
walls in the driveway for the space OF about 100
feet from the sidewalk. a rclcggcd booths X.
whose face showed pale beneath its coating OF dust
and crime, standing on the balustfade. sud
denly the boy scen - spring into the driveway
In front Of the plunglug horse He seized the ghcncd
rcins close 10 the bit, and raising himself from the
ground hung at the horses head. \ shout went mp
from the crowd. The horse made several more
plunges then swaycd from side 10 side. and finally
stopped stOckstl within few feet of the stout bars
later the 10 the Bridge had rcganed its usual
appearance, and one In the hurryng crowds would
have guessed that II had been the Of act Of