The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-12
A YOUNG AeRo OF THE GUTTER
How Young Rootbieck stopped Dam
gerous Runaway on the bridge.


"Ding. ding, ding" rang the electric
eone nj the New York terminus OF the
brooklyn bridge just at the busiest hour
az an afternoon. Nearly all in the great
,hrong that was pouring into the entrance
turned their heads as they heard tho inn
uetuous note OF warning. What was this
aongf Why was IL sounded' Few In the
crowd knew; bat instinctively they seemed
to feel thas something serious had occur
red Instantly the policeman whose duty
10 is 90 watch the carriage exit at the
northern side Of the terminus had run 10
thc strongly constructed gate thrown back
aan>i the building and bad unfastened
80 ready forclosing.
Then the word passed. Its a runaway
en- the bridge. and it's coming this wayr'
Ira another minute the crowd, springing
i.r. a. 60 were, from the ground, blocked
p.rk row. Several policemen StrOve vainly
q, Keep the people back from the end Of the
driveway. Nccks were crancd and eyes
,,erc strained 90 catch a glimpse OF the
horse and wagon which were just coming
irtoNic at the top Of the long stretch Of
paved approach 20 the bridge.
-H.rc DE CONTEST was the cry from n
thousand throats, and people involuntarily
drew back. a. il TO avoid the crash which
-ieht come later ON. The horse. IL could
le ...n. was on a dead run. but sosfar away
was hc that he only seemed 20 DC moving
slowly
Then SO could be seen that n young
,nan sat In the drivers seat and held the
r.lus His feet were firmly braccd agains;
fac foo,boar,l, his lips were set and lac was
.fH IA D, . oil
onrr,sh IL the horse But the incline IS
steep. the animal bad evidently lost his
head. " aud was now dashing TO his certain
destruction in Gu excess of mad terror The
policeman with his hand on the gate began
slowly % close IT, Il YVES his intention
should De animal not nc stopped 10 shut IL
iu his face People began TO picture 10
themselves the crash. and turned away
tfeir heads in horror. There was profound
silence TN the awcStruck crowd. broken
n'y by disconnected ordinations, and
.f.,r an the importunate ding, ding
la." of the gong.
Down The long incline came the fright
.ra. ..ccd. his black coat despatched with
t.u. and swayod from side TO side by the
a...c efforts of the young driver TO slack
..rt. rait In some OF these lurches the
-,apd wagon narrowly missed striking
die l..ms drawn mp at the sides Of the
driveway. From q cab standing a few
hundred i.. up the driveway could be
1...-lti. historical screams Of a woman.
SIN fhe horse had not slackened his speed.
The policeman closed the gate and the
crowd luw back, rs il impelled by one
Nl holding it, breath.
Il. horse had reached the stone balus-
taa that walls in the driveway for the
-.... of about a hundred feet from the
sidewalk & bare legged bootblack whose
f. showed pale beneath its coating Of
dust and crime. was seen standing on the
lu~tialc suddenly the boy was seen to
.-ra1 into the driveway i'm front of the
..---n- horse. lie seized the frightened
4r- lose to the bit, and raising himself
from tlc ground hung at the horses head.
4 -.lt went zap from the crowd. The
lra made several more plungos, then
sr...l 'rom side 90 siGeand finally stopped
stood. still within q few feet Of the stout
NJ the gate The gong ceased ringing.
minutes later the entrance To the
I.r bad rewiued its usual appearance,
.u. n1 one i'm the hurrying crowds would
I..s Guessed that 10 had been the scene Of
..t Of Ecroism-New York Tribune