The record-union., 1899-06-14

lnen PEDESTRIAN is run down ana
wounded or killed, and nearly always
the story is that the driver hastened
on and no one knows who heas. Every
now and then a person IS run down by
a cyclist, and the report follows that
the rider went on and no one knows
who he is
Will some endeavor be made in such
cases to ascertain hereafter? If there
is to be no search for the guilty reck-
less, then let pedestrians arm them.
selves and let another law become a
dead letter When these reckless driv-
ers dash down and run over people
with unconcern; when these untameu
cyclists dash into human beings and
wound and kill them, Jet the citizen
take a shot, and see if some of the
bone breakers and life destroyers can
not be potted for the benefit of society
generally.
There is an offense quite as bad as
running. down one, namely the fash
ing by without warning. The Record
Union" knows of one instance in which
! a good woman has been brought very
near to deaths door by such an act.
Sitting in her carriage on the public
highway at a whyside resting place, a
scorohing wheelman came uD behind
noiselessly, flashed by her like meteor
and not two feet distant, startling the
horses dangerously, and throwing the
woman into a dangerous condition, due
to sudden shock Of the heart.
There is a great deal that is delight
full about bicycle riding, great deal
that is commendable, praiseworthy and
about it that is damlla BILE. unlawful,
reckless, outrageous, in disregard of
the rights of others, and that deserves
the club or the bullet, If the law is to
continue powerless to afford protection
to the unoffending citizen.
Mr.. Phelps is dead before his time,
and that because two reckless, care
less, contemptuous riders sought to
dash between him and the wagon Ct a
neighbor seated in the vehicle and with
whom Mr.. Phelps was chatting upon
the highway, though there was a clear
space of fifty feet on the one side and
twenty feet or more on the other. in
which the wheelmen could and should
have passed
An aged man was run down and
killed in San Francisco the other day
by the reckless driver Of a wagon
speeding upon the wrong side of the
street, at unlawful gait and without
warming suddenly whirling around a
corner. In neither Of these cases have
the offenders been aporehended In
both cases they inhumanly went their
way and the citizens went to their
graves. 1t is a serious question in
this city whether the street riding and
driving laws are to be wholly ignored
by the authorities, and if citizens are
to be compelled to taxa the law INTO
their own hands. Assuredly some in
dignant, outraged and injured man
will do so presently, and when he does
he viii deserve crown Of bays.
Since the foregoing was placed in
type news is at hand that the cyclists
who ran down Mr.. Phelps have volun-
tarily surrendered themselves, deny that
they We're in fault and ask for an in
vestigation. It is to be hoped that it
will be had and be thorough. It does
not appear that the officers of San
Mateo County are entitled to any credit
came forward of their own motion,
which it is fair to say stands to their
credit. The fact. however, takes moth
ing from the justice and meaning of our
comments above.