Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-16
JOCKEY IN HERO'S ROLE
HORSES BIT BROKE IN A RACE
And the Gelding Manassa Boy
Ran Away.
A SMASH-UP AvERTED BY W. E. SMITH

New York World Friday.
Manassa Boy. powerful brown geld
ing was one Of the IL starters in the
i!rst heat to the 9. &c trotting race at
the Waveriy fair, near Newark, N. j.,
yesterday. Twenty thousand men ana
women we're watching the race.
At the quarter pole Manassa
Boy, already In fourth place, was trying
to get in the lead. His driver. W. "
Smith of Middletown. Del, was not
anxious TO go out in front go soon and
he tried 10 check the horses flight. As
he pulled hard on tho reina tho horse
lunged forward with his head and broke
the hit. Tins loosened bride Blipped
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. y. Smith. Smith
cropped the reins, stood up and jumped
astraddle 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 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 straining harness. Smith
spoke to his horse. but the ANNA was
| frightened by the strange weight on
| his back and only galloped madly on.
| BY sheer strength and skill the driver
! twisted the geling's head SO that he
| was forced to the outer edge of the
track.
Smith unbuckled the right rein from
| tho broken bride, and drew it out
until il lay doubled before him. lis
| tied slim knot in QUE end OF ii and 40
nude moose. With gentle twist Of
the wrist Smith shot the moose forward.
1t hung upon the horse's nose. and
Smith carefully drew it back until II
paRsed the ears and settled at the throat.
Then with a mighty backward heave
the driver drew the moose taut. II
fastened around the gelding's throat al
tight us the coil OF python. ManaesH
hoy stopped running as soon as he fell
his breath shut of. lie 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 beginning
to waver and that he must soon fall fol
lack OF breath, be swung himself to The
ground and loosened the moose. Manasst
Boy started to run again, hut a Sigh
pull on the MOOSE stopped him, ALSO
lutely conquered.
Still calm and apparently only anxi
Gus for the welfare Of his horse, Smitt
led Manassa Boy past the grind stant
on his way tn the atnhle. There aros
the most joyous ciamor ever heard on
New Jersey race-track All the men AMI
women aud all the children in tn
stand and Ia the field were shouting
wildly. Many of the women were sob
hing and so we're some Of the men
Sun bruwned farmers the iciest stoics il
the world, slyly wiped their eyes ant
coughea ostentatiously. and plucked a
their whiskers, and in between thei
outbursts OF cheering softly ejacuate
"gosh !" Half a dozen old horsemen ra
, out on the track and clapped Smith o.
the back and threw their arms aroun
him, and one tried to kiss aim, bu
only bumped his hat in Smiths eye
The crowd kept cheering for l
, minutes
Anu what did ". L. Smith doP II
Chewed straw.
"Well, fellows" no said, 81 tell 20
, it was leetle tickiHh till | got hil
, clear of the field. I'm little jolted u
7 that's all. {"