The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-12
PETER kOLCG. AND HIS TEAM
CAUSE EXCITEMENT AT
SMELLING.
HACK FULL OF MOURNERS
RUN AROUND POST
GROUNDS.
THEY RUN INTe A FENCE AND STOP
Occupants Jump Out of the Carriage
When the Horses Start Again,
Running Into Town.

The eccentricity Of Peter Kolc, a
hack driver employed at Ranks Seven
corners livery stable, almost broke up
funeral procession at Fort Smelling
yesterday and was responsible for a
wild ride which badly frightened half
dozen occupants of his carriage.
Kolc drove one of five carriages con-
veying the friends of Mrs. William
Grisnole to the grave of her little
daughter at the post cemtery. The
procession started from the Grisnole
home, on Cleveland avenue, near West
Seventh street, with the body of the
dead girl in the post ambulance, while
the mother and friends of the family
followed in carriages. Kolc had four
women and two little playmates OF
the dead girl in the second hack from
the ambulance. The solemnity of the
occasion was properly observed until
the procession reached a point near
the fort hospital, when Kolc's team
suddenly sWerved out of the line and
the horses broke into a mad gallop up
the road. Before the occupants could
realize the situation they were being
whirled along at wild speed, the car
riage rocking and swaying like a
mountain coach.
1t was at first thought that Kolc's
team had started to run away, but eye
witnesses said he apparently made no
effort to control the animals, whose
speed increased with every jump.
Heads protruded from the other car
riages and soldiers doing guard duty
about the post paused to watch the re-
suits. On went the horses, with low
cred heads, while the driver, it is said,
loosely held the reins. The animals
made quick turn to the left and
dashed upon the sidewalk. The car
riage toppled for a moment, but right
ed itself again when the team bolted
back into the street. The race con-
tinued straight ahead for a short dis
lance, when the animals attempted to
cross the boulevard. A low fence crash
ed under the wheels of the carriage,
tearing the step from the vehicle, and
once more the horses swerVed into the
roadway. Entering a portion of the
street the team rapidly executed Sc
ries of right and left oblique move
ments, tearing from curb to curb, until
a collision with fence at the end Of
-
standstill. During the dangerous ride
Kolc evidenced little concern in the ca
reer of the horses. The team had run
nearly half a mile and the women
waited until the funeral procession
came UP with them, when they were
given places in the other carriages.
When Kolc's passengers jumped out
he quickly turned his horses about and
they started on another break-neck run
toward the city, never tightening the
reins until the animals, covered with
foam and bleeding from several cuts,
dashed putting into the barn at Seven
corners. Mr.. Rank was astounded at
the appearance of the team and car
riage and summarily jerked Kolc from
the box, accusing him of being drunk.
This the driver denied, and really ap-
peared not to be under the influence
of liquor. He made no explanation,
however, and was elected from the
stable. Mr.. Rank said last night that
the man was either drunk or crazy;
he did not know which. Kolc has been
employed at the barn as a hostler and
was sent out on the hack yesterday as
a temporary eXpedient