The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-17
AN ODD RUNAWAY.
A Hook and Ladder Team Pulls In an
Alarm from Box A.

There was a disastrous runaway at s
O'Clock Saturday morning. A fire de-
partment team smashed fire alarm
box and caused an alarm to be rung in
from box A. While it lasted it was
about as lively a runaway as has been
seen in Portland for many years. W. F.
Robb was badly hurt, but fortunately
there were no other persons injured.
While Driver Baker of the hook and
ladder truck was out exercising his hors-
es in the exercise wagon, the whiffletree
broke at the head of Temple street. The
accident frightened the horses and they
dashed wildly down Temple street, Mr.
Baker being unable to control them.
The wagon struck trolley wire post just
in front of the Falmouth hotel on Middle
street, the post being broken off, and
the wagon was overturned. The driver
was thrown from the team with great
force, and about a ton of coal, with which
the wagon was loaded, was strewn over
the street and sidewalk. At the corner
of Plum street they struck the new fire
alarm post and completely uprooted it
and caused an alarm to be rung in. The
team was by this time pretty well tired
out, and was stopped.
AS soon as the excitement subsidized it
was discovered that there was no fire and
the about alarm was pulled in.
The horses were young and highly
spirited and had only been in the depart
ment about two or three months. AL
though there were several people stand
ing around at the time the whiff1etree
fell, no one had the courage to pull it out
NAL was kicking viciously and one could
hardly be blamed for not attempting the
charitable act Driver Baker finding no
volunteers in the service, jumped from
his seat, and attempted to extricate the
whifdetree, but he found this a problem
atical task as the animals were now
worked up into frenzied state, and he
had to concentrate all his efforts in the
attempt to hold them by the reins. He
hung on, however, and, as the off horse
was doing most of the drawing, the team
was pulled around in almost circle,
until one of the forward wheels struck
Driver Baker in the side and completely
winded him, obliging him to relinquish
his hold ON the ribbons
W. f. Robb, proprietor Of the Chase
house, who had been intently watching
the difficulty from the window of his
room in the hotel, and, fearing for the
injury the runaway might create, rushed
out of the hotel, and grabbed one of the
horses just as they were turning down
Temple street. But at that time four
men would doubtless have had little
effect on the Infatuated beasts, and con-
sequently Mr.. Robb made little progress
in staying the ravages of the runaway
team. 1t can be saiu to his credit, how
ever, that he made most heroic effort,
and one that was heartily applauded by
all who witnessed the performance. Soon
after Mr.. Robb jumped for the horse, he
expected some one would attempt to
check the progress Of the other horse, but
instead, another man, in the intense ex-
citement that prevailed, jumped wildly
for the same horse, forcing Mr.. Robb to
IoAii4uioh Lio CLASP, ptio loU uuUu duLOSU
every muscle had given away. Both were
thrown to the ground near Kendall &
Whitney's store, and in the fall Mr..
Robb was struck by the whiffletree and
also one of the flying hoofs. 1t is thought
one of the horses must have stepped on
his leg, as one of the legs of his trousers
was torn off as neatly as though cut
with scissors. He was taken into Ken
dali & Whitney's store and afterwards
removed to the Chase house, and ply
sician Immediately called 1t was found
that no bones were broken, but he had
some bad cuts and bruises on his leg,
bruise on the back of his head, and a
very lame back. The wrenching of the
muscles of his arms and wrists was some
thing terrible, and it is thought it will
take quite a while before he will be able
to be around