Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-12
MIX UP OF TEAMS.
Occupants Were Fortunate in Escap-
 ing Without Broken Bones.

ing Without BfOken Bones.
 Morris Whelan of Stone street, the
 popular fish dealer, and his neighbor,
 Edward Champagne, the noted angler,
 narrowly escaped serious injuries last
 night. Mir Whelan and his friend were
 driving home in the delivery wagon
 and had reached q point opposite Do-
 yer street on South Main street when
 they heard a team coming along be-
 hind them at a pretty fast clip. The
 men were swapping stories about es-
 capes which they claimed to have fig
 ured in in their day and time and
 being on their own side and the team
 coming after them having lots of room
 to pass, they took no notice it until
 they heard a crash and the next thing
 they knew they were lifted off the
 seat and sent sprawling all over the
 horses back, while large vessel con-
 taining oysters which occupied place
 behind them in the wagon bounded
 here and there like a football. The
 driver of the other team was pitched
 into the street, the top of his carriage
 knocked off. and the animal flew away
 at q mad run. People who witnessed
 the run in thought the men were
 killed, but in this they were agreeaDly
 disappointed, no one so far as could
 be learned suffering anything worse
 than a bad fright and quite a good
 shaking up. Whelan's horse. a spir-
 ited animal, made frantic efforts to
 break away, but. fortunately, the own
 CT never let go of the reins, and 10
 the great surprise of everybody, held
 on with such tenacity that he brought
 the horse to a standstill almost on the instantaneous process. thus saving himself and Mir Champagne from being brought under the wheels. or worse still. put under the hoofs of the ex- cited steed A big crowd collected about the scene. among them Officer John Byrnes. who had hard time of
 it for half an hour or so clearing the street and holding onto the runaway horse. which some one captured down
 the street and brought back dancing on
 the pavements like trick monkey. The man who had charge of the car
 riage could not be found at that time. but he showed up later and took the team away. Some of the springs in MT Whalen'S wagon were twisted out of shape, but the other fellows car
 riage was a sight. There was lots of room at the point where the accident occurred. but the man in the carriage did not notice the wagon ahead. or perhaps. is not practical man at the business and failed to pull far enough 10 one sue W Hell Sl1TttU to pass II. It was about : o'clock when the mix up happened and had it not been for i the presence of the officer it is prOba- 1 ble that there would have been some | fstcufting among the spectators. many 1 of whom thought that the man who | was responsible for it ought to be 1 mODbed. while others took the grounds 1 that it was one of those things that | occur from time to time for which no one should be held resDonsble Be | that as it may. it is certain that there ! is too much fast driving on the public streets. especially in the night time and it is a wonder that we don't hear | of more such cases. Drivers rush | down South Main street at brcakneck l speed and it is a miracle how they | manage to cross and recrOSS the trol- 1 ley rails, keep clear of the cars pull l out of the way to pass other teams. to say nothing of looking out for Dedes- | trians who are constantly on the cross l walks. without doing more damage than is reported to themselves and others. The police prevent as. mach as they can of this business. but they l are pOWerleSS to do much with the | class of drivers that shoot past with | lightning speed and are out of sight in | q few seconds. Naturally phclan and | Champagne felt very much put out
 over the affair. but bad as it was they
 have good reason 10 feel thankful that
 it was not worse. for people who saw | it expected to see them picked up
 maimed for life.