The sun., 1898-02-06
GRAY HARRYS WILD RUN.
Il LIVERY HORSE GALLOPS OYER Il
16O-FOOT TRESTLE.

Engineer George Bowen or the Eric n. n on
His Locomotive Pursued tho Runaway
Horsc fer over Three Nliies-The Horse Kept
the Ties Untn It Was Almost Home.
"Gray Harry" Paterson, N. j.. livery horse,
achieved greatness and renown night before
Inst. His owner, Marcus Zeek. would qualify
this statement and say the horse only achieved
renown, being already great. For, Zeek says,
the horse is wonderful in intelligence and gentle
ness and is eNoelcnt in every way under the
saddle or in single or double harness. Zeek says
he bought Harry from q man who bought him
from Marion Harland. the novel writer. who
had owned him for several years. Zeek admits
willingly that Harry's feat OF two nights ago
was wonderful for any horse-though he con-
tends that for him to have run away at all was
moro wonderful than the fact that he chose the
Erie Railroad to travel on. and traversed some
$50 feet of trestle work during his eightmilo
run.
Josiah Griffith, publisher of the City Directory
of Paterson, who returned from a trip to Wash
ington a few days ago. took the horse out about
7oclock on Friday night and drove with his
wife To cousin house in Ridgcwood.
About 10 o'clock Griffith won't to the stable
and climbed into the sleigh. In turning to
drive out the sleigh was partially upset and
Griffith was dumped In the snow. The horse,
which wore an open bride. without binders.
became frightened and dashed out Of the
stable through the yard, into the street, and
away toward home Lap robe, whip. seat cush-
ion and tho other contents Of tho cutter were
dumped out along the first few rods Of his
course, and the horse was soon out of sight down
the Godwinville road.
At the point where this road crosses the Erie
tracks the horse turned onto the track which led
straight toward home. The distance by the rail.
road was loss than four miles. and from Ridge.
wood to Paterson by wagon road would have been
eight. Tho horse passed Hawthorne. two miles
from Paterson. Just a few moments before the
local train from Ferndale was due. The crew of
the train was notified that there was horse
ahead; SO was the operator In the signal
at The nop pit the ha mile
tbis lnst on notoetion. however and Was clat.
tering over the nterock ing switches as the
operator bent over his instrument, the un.
ing the signals Of the sounder. moment later
the train came along. the engineer and fireman
the track. A wild waving OF the operator 5
arms informed them that the horse was still
soon after this Engineer George Bowen sight
ed :he horse, which had almost come to stand
still at sight OF the bridge across the Passaic.
This bridge is l60 feet long. and there are no
lights on 1t. The river rushes beneath It, and its
aspect is enough to deter almost any horse from
attempting to cross 1t on the ties. On sighting
the horse Engineer Bowen shut Off stoam
and applied brakes intending to send his fire:
the track. but The glare of f the he headiSht cad not
only frightened the horse but also illuminated
narrow footway across the bridge between the
tracks. Along this the horse sprang. crossing
In seven jumps.
Operator Walker in the signal tower at West
for the number of jumps. He had left his cross
ing gates raised more to obey orders than with
bridge. rnd WAS descending from his tower
when the roar Of hoofs on, the bridge
apprised him that the impossible was being
effected. After that, he says. he had no further
thought of stopping the runaway. as he did not
consider his pay OF $50 month warranted him
to get in front Of the horse.
Meantime the train was slowly following the
horse. and the engineer and fireman were try
ing to follow the course of the horse. This was
hard to do as. although there WIS a bright