The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-09
WAS WILD RUNAWAY
Mr. Bell, Mrs, BaIding and
Son Were Seriously Injured,
SEVERAL NARROW ESCAPES
Horses Dash Through the
Crowded Streets.
SEVERAL NARROW ESCAPES

One Of the most disastrous runaways
that has occurred in this city in long
time happened yesterday afternoon be
tween 4 and 5 o'clock on Main street, the
result OF which came very near ending in
the death Of three persons, who were more
Or less seriously Injured. The driver Of the
team, Charles Bell, was taken to his home
In the city ambulance and Mrs. BaIding
and her little boy, who We're knocked down
by the runaway team, were carried into
the Boston store, where they were at
tended by several Of the lady clerks and
others. This was not all the damage
done. On the corner Of Main and Douglas
dray, loaded with coal, was lying on its
side, with a wheel completely demolished,
caused by one o fthe runaway horses com
ing in contact with it, in his wild Dash
through the crowded thoroughfare The
horse was badly cut across the neck he
sides injuries received in the long race
down Main street from Oak, where sney
started from. The other horse received
several bad cuts and was skinned from his
hooks to fetlock, besides other cuts on
the limbs and body.
The runaway team was being driven by
Charles Bell, who is a deaf and dumb
citizen Of this city. The horses were a pair
Of handsome, high-headed bays, attached
TO a two-seated surrey. When the team
had gotten close to the corner Of Oak and
Main street the pole fell to the ground at
the neck-yOke. Bell pulled the horses M
and the carriage came in contact with the
horses heels. They tried 10 free them
selves from the carriage and in doing so
had gotten quite unmanageable. but Bell
succeeded in stopping them long enough
to get out and around to their heads. As
he was reaching for the pole the horses
made plunge, knocking Bell down and
running over his body. His head was
struck by one of the horses feet and
caused a deep cut on the right side of his
face. One Of his limbs was also badly in
jured so seriously that he was removed
from the Central drug store, where he
was carried after the accident, to his
home on Thirteenth street in the ambu-
lance.
The horses made q dash down Main
street with the pole on the ground. They
finally were divided by going on opposite
sides Of a street car pole and from there
on the horses took each side Of the street
anu made one Of the widest runs down
Main street ever witnessed. They seemed
to be bewildered by the number Of con-
veyances that lined both sides of the street
They brushed several Of the carriages so
close that the hair on the side Of one Of
the horses was rubbed off to the hide. but
no other serious damage was done until
the horses got TO the corner of Main and
Douglas, where the teams and people were
crossing in all directions. The horses be-
come confused and dashed into every
thing that was in their path. One horse
made a plunge into a wagon loaded with
coal. belonging to Isaac Beard, of JOS
South Lawrence avenue, and crushed il
down. The other horse made a dash for
the sidewalk at the Boston store corner
and reared Up on his hind legs. as If to
make a leap over the heads of Mrs. Bald
ing and her little boy, who were in the
city on a shopping trip from Wellington,
Kan. Mrs. Balding tried to avoid the
horse by leaning over her little son, and
in doing as she did probably saved the life
OF herself and son, as the horse seemed to
change his mind and came down again on
all-fours but in doing so, did not miss
Mrs. Balding altogether She and the boy
were knocked 70 the pavement and
severely injured. Men rushed to the assis-
lance OF both and Officer Crawford caught
the horse. The other one was caught by
some Of the men who happened to be near.
Mrs. Balding, when picked up, was bleed
ing from the mouth and nose. The little
boy complained to be hurt about the head
and body. Mrs. Balding was treated very
kindly by the Boston store people and
said she thought she would be able to
continue her journey home to Wellington,
where she lives.
The accident caused a great deal Of ex-
element on the business streets during
the afternoon and many were heard 10
say that It was about time that some pre-
caution should be taken to avoid the repe-
tition Of so many ruRaways in the city,
most of which are generally attributable
70 reckless and careless driving. Another
was heard to say: The main streets are
TOO generally used by all more as speed
ring and Jogging thoroughfare for young
horses than a business thoroughfare"