Middletown transcript., 1897-09-18
RARE HoRsEMANsHIP.
How A Plucky Delaware Jockey
Saved T7fmseIf and Horsa

How A Plucky Delaware Jockey
Saved Himself and Horse,
The New York World" week ago gave
the following graphic account of William
E. Smiths struggle with runaway horse
on the Waverly race track. Mr.. Smith is
the wellknown horseman who formerly 1e
side here.
Manassa Boy, powerful brown gelding
was one of the II starters i'll the first heat
to the 226 trottiDg race at the Waverly fair,
near Newark, N. j., yesterday. Twenty
Thousand men and women were watching
the race.
At the quarter-mile pole Manassa Boy,
al ready in fourth place, was trying to get
in the lead. His driver, w. e. Smith, of
Middletown. DEL, was not anxious to go
out IN front so soon and ne tried to check
the horses fight. As he pulled hard OH
the reins the horse lunged forward with his
head and broke the bit. The loosened
bride slipped back over the trotter's head.
Tossing his head with delight at his new
found liberty, Manassa Boy broke into a
gallop and ran away. But he reckoned
without W. e. Smith. Smith dropped the
reins. stood up and jumped straddle of
the horses back. Behind him thudded the
hoofs of the other horses.
A groan went up from the crowd. The
little track became the theatre of tragedy
where a man fought for his life.
After the first involuntary cry there was
absolute silence, save for the laundering of
the horses hoofs and the creaking of strain
ing harness. Smith spoke to his horse, but
the animal was frightened by the strange
weight on his back and only galloped mad
ly on. By sheer strength and skill the
driver twisted the gelding's head so that he
was forced to the outer edge of the track.
Oh rIoI al. Il r.. II
broken bride, and drew it out until it lay
doubled before him. He tied a slip-knot
in one end of it and so made a moose. With
gentle twist of the wrist Smith shot the
moose forward. 1t hung upon the horses
nose, and Smith carefully drew it back un-
til it passed the ears and settled at the
throat.
Then with mighty backward heave the
driver drew the moose taut. 1t fastened
around the gelding's throat as tight as the
coil of python. Manassa Boy stopped
running as soon as he felt his breath shut
off. He reared and plunged and shook his
head, but Smith only sat there and coolly
watched him. When the mans practised
eye saw presently that the horse was be-
ginning to waver and he must soon fall for
lack OF breath, he swung himself to the
ground loosened the moose. Manassa Boy
started to run again, but a slight pull on
the moose stopped him, absolutely con-
quered.
Still calm and apparently only anxious
for the welfare of his horse, Smith led
Manassa Boy past the grand stand on his
way to the stable. There arose the most
joyous clamor ever heard on New Jersey
race track. All the men and women and
all the children in the stand and in the
field were shouting wildly. Many of the
women were sobbing and SO were some of
the men. Sun-burned farmers, the iciest
stoics in the world, slyly wiped their eyes
and coughed ostentatiously, and plucked
at their whiskers, and in between their
outbursts of cheering softly calculated
"goshr' Half dozen old horsemen ran out
on the track and clapped Smith on the
back and threw their arms around him,
and one tried to kiss him. but only bumped
his hat in Smiths eye. The crowd kept
cheering for 12minutes.
And what did w. E. Smith dor He
chewed q straw.
4 '.Well, fellows" he said, 81 tell you it
was leetle ticklish till I got him clear of
the field. Pma little jolted up-that's all"