Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-24
THRILLING RUNAWAY ACCIDENT.
Perilous Ride of Two Lads Who Re-
NAMED Bravely at Their Post.

The Horse Got Scared at Eighteenth and
Market and Ran to Front and Tronch--
Collision with "a Street Car and Narrow
Escape of the Boys.
An accident that threw over hundred
people into q state of wild excitement oc-
Cured at Front and French streets last
evening shortly before o'clock. The
terror was caused by runaway horse at
tached to light buggy. In the vehicle
John Jones, aged Is years. Talley who
was driving. is son of Isaac Talley of
Brandywine hundred, whose trial some
years ago for shooting ]. Wesley Handy
Tor trespass created great sensation at
the time.
The two lads were driving down
Eighteenth street, in the Ninth ward,
when their steed became frightened by a
trace accidentally striking his heeiss In a
moment the animal was in q dead run
toward Market street. Just as the fright
ened steed reached Market street River
view car was passing and to avoid col
lision young Talley pulled the horses
bead towards Market street, and then the
runaway began In earnest.
The horse crossed the bridge like a flash.
The driver, again pulled az the reins, to
AVOID collding with a passing vehicle, and
the animal flew into Sixteenth street
toward French, faster than before. His
speed seemed to increase at every step, but
the plucky driver remained at his post.
His companion also stuck TO his seat.
When French street was reached Talley
turned the runaway horse into that street.
and over the cobbles the runaway went al
break-neck pace. Now Jones, hoping to
help his companion in checking the ami
the reins. Talley held the other. Their
d,minurive arms ached from pain, but this
did not deter their efforts to stop the run
away horse in the least. Nothing short of
collision. with tree, a fire plug or some
similar object, could have stopped that
animal. The boys knew this, but still
they were not afraid. The noise of the
runaway attracted numbers of people to
the street all along its course, but no one
made any effort to stop the horse.
When the boys reached Seventh and
French streets, the horse ran UP on the
side OF the pavement, but ran off again
before any damage was done. The horse
now had all down grade and flew toward
front street at frightful rate of speed.
For the. first time the occupants OF the
vehicle began to get alarmed. They be-
held the Christiana river before them and
realized their peril should a train happen
to be passing when they crossed the rail
road track, but they were resigned to their
fate.
An electric car was just passing the foot
u French street when the runaway came
along. This car probably saved the boys
lives. The horse ran straight for the rear
OF the electric car. The conductor jumped
Iheshafts ofthe wagon passed on eitherside
the rear platform and there they were
wcdged. At the same time the cross-bar
on the shafts broke and the horse was
freed. The occupants of the wagon were
first hurled high in the air, and
then bystanders say they were pitched
headforeinost to the ground. The
iron door of the electric car was
broken into pieces and the glass in the rear
Of the car was shattered upon the gfound
The wagon was partially demolished
Every iron in the vehicle was either bent
or broken. The harness were broken in
shreds. The only injuries the occupants
OF the wagon received were some Slight
cuts and bruises, while Jones sustained
sprain of the wrist. The horse escaped
with few cuts and bruises from falling
on the cobbles in the street. Eye witnesses
to the accident state that it is remarkable
that no one was injured, so dangerous and
thrilling was the runaway.