The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-12
WILD NAN ON A PIPE LINE.
HE'S THE KING OF THE HIGHWLYS
AND HE HOLDS FOLKS Up.

cyclists shuader as They sooroh Aiens the
neaa between Mount Vernon ana white
Flains-Lawyer Roberts Encounters the
wild Hlsn st the Foot ora Hiii-His Escape.
MoUNr VERNON, N. Y, Aug. 11.-Within tho
last week occasional reports have come In from
bicyclists about a wild man who infosts tho
road between hero and White Plains. and
PUSHES out from the woods to hold up wayfarors
afoot or awhoel. Most persons have been In
olined TO ridicule these stories, but unexpected
aud specific confirmation of Thorn In given by
ex-Assistant Corporation Counsel Roberts Of
this city. Mr.. Roberts encountered tho man
yesterday, and 10 glad to have escaped with
nothing worne than a few bruises.
Having, some business to attend TO in White
Plains Mr.. Roberts set out on his bicycle yester-
day afternoon on the macadam road Of the pipo
line. He had reached q point between Harris
dale and scarsdalc and was contemplating with
regretful forebodings q hill three-quarters
Of q mile in length which stretched up
In front Of him, when q man leaped
out Of q olump of trees and ran at him. Mr..
Roberts had heard stories about the wild man,
who was said to have established q roign Of
terror on this road, and he had laughed at
them; but he felt little enough like laughing
nov for ho realized tho truth of the stories at
the arst glance.
The man who had so suddenly appeared from
the woods was broad and powerful looking. He
was ~coatloss and hatless and his long hair and
matted beard framed a face that was not pleas
ant to look upon. Around his waist was an iron
band, from which dangled q long chain that
clanked Al as he ran. All these details Mr.. Roberts
took in In n second. Then ho bent over his wheel
and spurtod.
Come back T. called tho man, running after
him. You can't get away. Como back"
This Mr.. Roberts found to DO true. The hill
was too much of a handicap. In half n minute
the Withholding individual had him by the arm
and hauled him from his wheel roughly. Mr.,
Roberts jumped up, expecting an attack, but
the man only held to his arm.
what do you want = asked the wheelman.
IL want my money" replied the man In q
voice not In keeping with his savage appearance,
as 1t was rather mild.
Your money r. repeated Mr.. Roberts. IT
my tax" explained the man. I'm King Of
How do 1 know that You may be an Inn
~ hold a commission from God" replied the
King. You can tell 1 am King of the High
MIR. Roberts started to ask him IL his halo
waist. but decided he'd better not, SO he said:
this over. i mover met a King Of the Highways
before -.
All rlRhJ. SAID his Majesty; Dut don't try
to get away. 1t wouldn't be any good. I've got
wings and can fly faster than any bicycler.,"
How did you como here = asked the wheel
man.
"I was specially sent by my Master. Bicy.
clists or walkers or horsemen, / stop them all
and collect my tax"
How much is the ta1f
you've got"
This was cheerful. Mr.. Roberts kept up tho
conversation until they had come almost to tho
summit Of the hill. Then he turned and cried:
Look! A messenger for you,
The King turned. With a short run Mr..
Roberts vaulted into the saddle and put his best
White Plains. II the King had wings he forgot
to unfurl them, for the fugitive heard him gal
Looping along behind shouting:
Come back! You can't escape"
1t was by another route that Mr.. Roberts
came back to this city. His arm was black and
wheel.
His account is supplemented by the story told
by Henry Esser, Superintendent of the Poor.
Later in the evening Mr.. Esser was driving on
the White Plains road when, at the foot Of the
man ran out and Jumped at the horses head.
Let. CO." cried Mr.. Esser. "or I'll run you
You cant. I'm immortal. and you can't
With the stock Of his whip Mr.. Esser knocked
tho man down and drove on. He could hear
him yelling furiously as he drove away. 1t is
probable that a search for the wild man will be
begun shortly. as bicyclists are now afraid to
use the road between here and White Plains.
dale Asylum. and it is believed that the King OF
the Highways is that lunatic.