The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-03
BISHOP O'HARA'S
NARROW ESCAPE
Carriage He Was Riding 10 Was Dashed
Against a Telephone Pole.
HORSES BECAME UNMANAGEABLE E
Part of the Harness Broke, and the
Frightened Animals Dashed Down
the Marion street Hill at n Fright-
fui Pace--Driver Feared the Horses
Would Plunge Into n Trench aud
Jumped from His Seat--Bishop
Only Slightly Injured.

row escape from serious injury last
night at Capouse avenue and Marion
street. The horses attached to the car
riage in which he and Rev Michael
Lotus of the cathedral were riding
ran away and dashed the carriage into
telegraph pole. The venerable pre-
late was somewhat bruised and sus-
tanned small cut over the right
temple, but otherwise was uninjured.
Rev. Michael LOTUS who was in the
carriage with him, escaped unscratched
Those who saw the runaway declared
that the escape of the bishop and his
companion from very serious injury,
III not death, was marvellous.
About o'clock Bishop O'Hara and
Father LOTUS left the episcopal resi-
dence in a carriage for the residence
of Rev. p. j. McManus in Green Ridge.
Father McManus had been i'll for sew
eral weeks and the bishop, solicitous
about his condition, decided to pay him
visit last evening. The carriage in
which they rode was two-seated
phaeton owned by Liveryman James
Nealis, and was driven by Michael
Nealon. The party drove out Wash
ington avenue to Marion street and
then turned west toward Penn ave-
nue. where Father McManus resides.
PIECE OF HARNESS BROKE.
Coin down the hill between Wy
oming avenue piece Of harness leading
from the pole of the carriage to the
collar broke and the carriage struck
the horse that was on that side of the
pole several times. This caused it to
kick and plunge, thoroughly frighten-
ing its mate. Both horses started
down the hill on a run, and by the
time the foot of the hill at Penn ave-
nue. was reached the driver had lost
control of them.
Midway between Penn and Capouse
avenue was a trench extending half
way across the street. The driver
feared the horses would plunge into
it and swung himself from his seat
over the wheel to the ground. He
rolled over in the dust several times
after reaching the ground but was not
injured. The frightened horses avoid
ed the trench but continued their flight
along Marion street
An electric car, outward bound, was
moving along Capouse avenue, and
it looked as if the horses would run
squarely into 1t. DR.. Berlinghoff, who
stood at the street intersection saw the
danger, yelled to the quick witted
motorman, who instantly grasped the
situation and got his car off the street
intersection. An instant later the
runaways whisked by, clearing the car
by about two feet.
In crossing the street the horses
veered from a straight course and ran
en- either side of large telephone pole
nn n ri ctr he
corner of Capouse avenue and that
street. The pole of the carriage struck
the telephone pole and was shattered
and splintered by the impact.
REMAINED IN THE CARRIAGE.
During this wild ride the Bishop sat
leaning back in the seat with one hand
grasping the side of the carriage. In
the other he held his cane. Father
LOTUS slipped his arm around to pre-
vent him from being thrown out and
when the collision occurred held him
tightly which probably accounts for the
trifiing injuries the venerable prelate
sustained.
When the carriage struck the pole
| the front end of 1t was thrown in the
air and badly wrecked. The Bishop
! and Father Lotus We're pinioned in
the rear seat. the formers right side
pressing against the iron frame of the
| side of the carriage. DIR. Berlinghoff,
Il. J. Kelly and Richard Flynn assisted
them from the carriage and led the
bishop into DR.. Berlinghoff's residence.
| There an examination was made and
| it was found that there was a small
cut over the right temple and a bruise
on the right shoulder. AS soon as it
was discovered that his injuries were
Of a trifling nature the bishop insisted
on making his call on Father McManus
and walked to the latter's residence a
block and a half away There he was
seen by Tribune reporter. He seemed
in no way disturbed by his exciting ad-
venture and after inquiring about
Father McManus' health and chatting
with those present about the runaway,
had another carriage secured from Liv-
eryman Warner and drove to his resi-
dence.
Upon his arrival there his physician,
DR.. John Burnett, was summoned. II
was feared that on account Of the bis
hops advanced age reaction Of a SER
ious nature might follow the accidents.
IN NO WAY DISTURBED.
| NOlHlTS VI lHt hlllu occurred.
The bishop was not at all affected
by the shock. He complained OF
n pain in the right side and
an examination revealed the fact
that he had a bruise on that side
and also a small bruise on the right
knee. Bishop C'Hara recently cele-
brated his eighty-second birthday and
the manner in which he bore up under
last evenings excitement shows his
wonderful vitality. Father Lotus
escaped without injury.
| When the horses ran the carriage
against the obstruction and splintered
the pole they became free and con-
tinued down Marion street. One of
them jumped over a fence and was
caught. He injured himself slightly
The other horse was captured on San
dersoa avenue. The carriage was a
new one. 1t was fitted with pneu-
matte tires and cost Liveryman Nealis
$500. 1t is almost a complete wreck
When the carriage ran against the
telegraph pole the rear wheels were
Thrown against the fence surrounding
| tba nroDartV of Nv. l.. Carr and hroke