The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-01
FORTY FARMERS HELD UP,
PERIL OF a TOP HEAvY cRA Fl our
ON H. MERRICK ROAD.

Devices OF che Combined Geatus OF the Fo,.
~ Tor Getting It oT-AH 1ncidept Tha,
T~hreatened TO shut or che City's Sun.
ply or Vegetables from, Long Island
Half q mile or 80 away it'miGht have been
taken for q circus parade, but 1t wasn't. II
wns . stalled procession Of forty farmers WAC.
ons, heavily laden with Long Island vcse,n.
bles and fruits intended for the people o,
Brooklyn and New York. Tho wagons were
strung out on the Merrtck road, near Snr,nv.
field. Perhaps n sleepy farmers BOY was ina
cause of Il. In fact, some of the DELAYED farm.
ers intimated that he had been caught nan.
ping. He was bringing to town n huge load
Of eatables from Hicksville on Friday after.
noon. whom an extra quantity is required in
tho city to last over Sunday. His load. ike
tho others. was covered with canvas, tightly
tied with ropes. and It looked decidedly ton.
heavy. being at leatt fifteen feet high from
the ground.
While descending q hill the lines got tangled
up with the pole, and tho horses had thing,
their own way for q while. Near the foot OF
tho incline their way wasn't a pleasant ono,
certainly not for the boH His seat was a
dozen feet from the ground, and somewhat
shaky. Tho horses were gradually siding
from the road, and the prospect looked very
bright for tho boy, horses, and wagon 10 h,
rolled down n t~en-foot embankiren at into a DO.
alto patch. The boy woke up and took chance,
by jumping. He had barely reached tho
ground whom the wheels on tho right-hand
side began to sink into the soft, sandy soil OIL
the embankment, and the wagon tilted. ThiJ
brought the horses to n standstill. The wac
on remained at an angle Of about 60 degree,
with the chan ces good for its being owe.
turned should q good breeze spring up.
Then other wagons began to arrive. and to
farmers tied ropes TO tho right side OF no
stalled vehicle. threw them over the top OF te
load. and fastened some to the fence on he
opposite side of the road. Other ropes ers
held by the farmers near the fence. Thisar-
rier of ropes prevented teams from passin for
over an hour, and it began to look 90 II hero
would be- q scarcity of garden stun 70 tho
city folks over Sunday, for It didn't som 10
occur TO these hardy sons OF toll that they
could hold on 10 the ropes by standing near
the wagon. and thus clear the road for rafic.
They were OVERLOOKING with brilliant EeasJ
however. as to the best means Of releasing
the sunken wheels without giving the w,soi
an opportunity to turn a somer.ault.
One young farmer. q feet 2 tall. In lonf
.eEged boots and an ancient ulster that drezlh
dig in front of the wheels. They dug. Ia
wagon moved q few inches and then SAX
that a board be placed in front of the wh.l.
This was tried. without success. The hoes
unally DeCdIuo 30 ulbRusIeu tnht they WOul1t
pull another ounce ,preferrinE 70 jumn and blk.
Then the plan WAS suggested OF tAktng.hs
horses out of the wagon TO cool of, looselna
the ropes tied to the fence. and having altha
men at the ropes pull forward. while as my
as could get hand room at the back O tho
wagon and on Its safe side should push.
The horses weren't cooled of fifteen MN
utes later, when they were again attach TO
the wagon. A farmer with Paderewskiocks
that another team be plad In
front OF the hAlky one. but q knowing rmer
scared them all by saying he wouldn't r. the
worst team he ever saw ahead Of them
brutes." AT last a youth decided to sk 1t.
and soon led q pair of Frames as thdarm-
ers called Thorn, toward the wagon.
Meantime the Hicksville boy had scam
pered across q field TO the nearest farmhouse
and procured q pair OF whitfietrees. These
were securely tied TO the pole ard won. all
hands were ordered to be ready, the ems OF
both teams were adjusted. tho mer at tho
rOpee and the now horses pulled. thInen at
the wagons side and back pushed. nd tho
bulky team danced and kicked. TT wagon
went steadily through the soft rut an preached
the solid road in safety.
Then there was a hurrah that INST have
startled the natives for q mile aroud. Not
only did the RranKers yell. but the crwo. now
numbering a few hundreds. Joined 1. and tho
bicyclists. yanked their gong rope. tinkled
bells. and let out a war whoop. 1took nnly
a. few minutes to get things in readiess Tor a
now start. and then the farmers did heir tevel
boat to break the record between SrinGield
and Brooklyn. and the city folks din't have
TO 20 on short rations over Sunday.