The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-09
STOPPING RUNAWAYS
HOW THE NEW YORK PARK POLICE
HORSE ENJOYS THE WORK.

The Story OF a Glorious Run That
Was Only an Incident In the Laeo
OF skiDper-A Race That Ended In
the Capture OF the Runaway Roam.
How the horses Of the New York
park mounted policemen enjoy catch
ing rnnaways, which is the most excit.
ing part OF their work. is told by Sewell
Ford in "Horscs Nine" The author
says OF his equine hero:
Eor half aii hour at time ne would
stand just on the edge Of tho roadway
and at an exact angle with It motion.
less as the horse ridden by the bronze
soldier up near the mall. Reddy
would sit as still in the saddle too. It
was hard for Skipper to stand there
and see those mincing cobs go ta, their
pad housings all a-glitter, crests on their
biinders. jingling their pole chains and
switch!ng their absurd little stuba oe
calls. But lt was still! more &antahsing
to watch the saddle horses canter past
In the soft bride path on the other side
OF the roadway. But, then. when you
are on the force you must do your
duty.
One afternoon as Skipper was stand
ing post like this he caught q new note
that rose above tho hum Of the park
traffic. 1t was the quick, nervous beat
Of hoofs which rang sharply on the
hard macadam. There were screams
too. 1t was q runaway. Skipper knew
this even before he saw the bell.like
nostrils, the straining eyes and the
foam fecked lips OF the horse or the
scared man In tho carriage behind. Il
was case OF broken rein.
How the sight made Shippers blood
Jingle! Wouldn't he tust like to show
that crazy roam what real running was!
But what was Reddy going to do? He
felt him gather up the reins. He felt
Ills knees tighten. What! Yes, It must
be 80. Reddy was actually going to try
brush with the runaway. What 3upl
Skipper pranced out into the road.
way and gathered himself for the
sport. Before he could get into full
swing. however, the roam had shot past
with snort Of chaEsnge which could
not be misunderstood.
"Oho! You will, eh7" thought Skip-
per. "Well now, we'll see about that"
Ah, O free rein! That is-almoss free.
Ana 6 touch OF the Spursl No need for
chat, Reddy. How the carriages scat
ter! Skipper caught hasty glimpses oe
smart hackneys drawn up trembling
By the roadside, OF womsn who tum-
bled from bicycles into the bushes and
Of men who ran and shouted and
waved their hats.
ASaA
wasn't scared enough already" thought
Skipper.
But she did run we'll. Skipper had to
admit that She had lead OF Afty
yards before he could strike his best
gait. Then for few moments he
could not seem to gain an inch. But
the mare was blowing herself, and
Skipper was taking 1t coolly. He was
putting the pent up energy Of weeks
into his strides. Once he saw he was
overhauling her he steadied to the
work.
Just as Skipper was about to forge
ahead Reddy did queer thing. With
his right hand he grabbed the roam
with nose pinch grip, and with the
left he pulled In on the reins. It was q
great disappointment 70 Skipper, for
he had counted on showing the roam
his heels. Skipper knew after two or
three experiences Of this kind that this
was the usual thing.
Those were glorious runs, though
Skipper wished they would come more
often. Sometimes there would be two
and even three in day. Then fort.
night Or 30 would pass without single
runaway on Shippers beat. But duty
/ % duty.