The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-05-01
STOPPING RUNAWAYS
HOW THE NEW YORK PARK POLICE
HORSE ENJOYS THE WORK.
The story of N Glorious Run That
Was Only an Incident In the Life
of sLipper-A Race That Ended In
the Capture of the Runaway Roam

The story of n Glorious Run That
was Only an Incident In the Life
of sI<fpper-A Race That Ended In
the Capture of the Runaway Roam.
How the horses of the New York
park mounted policemen enjoy catch
ing runaways, which is the most excit-
ing part of their work, is told by Sewell
Ford in Horses Nine" The author
says of his equine hero:
For half an hour at a time he would
stand just on the edge of the 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 rs still in the saddle too. II
was hard for Skipper to stand there
and see those mincing cobs go by, their
pad housings all a-glitter, crests on their
blinders, jingling their pole chains and
switching their absurd little stubs of
| tails. But IL was still more tantalizing
| 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.
II
ing post like this he caught a new note
| that rose above the hum of the park
traffic. 1t was the quick, nervous beat
| of hoofs which rang sharply on the
bard macadam. There were screams
too. 1t was runaway. Skipper knew
| this even before he saw the bell-like
nostrils, the straining eyes and the
foam flecked lips of the horse or the
scared man in the carriage behind. 1t
was a case of broken rein.
How the sight made Shippers blood
tingle, Wouldn't he Just 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
his knees tighten. What Yes. 1t must
be so. Reddy was actually going to try
brush with the runaway. What funi
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
not be misunderstood.
'Oho. You will. eh?" thought Skip
per. well now. well see about that"
All. free rein. That is-almost free.
And a touch OF the spurs. No need for
that. Reddy. How the carriages scat
ter. Skipper caught hasty glimpses of
smart hackneys drawn up trembling
by the roadside. of women who tum-
bled from bicycles into the bushes and
of men who ran and shouted and
waved their hats.
II hot =
wasn't scared enough already" thought
Skipper.
But she did run well. Skipper had t.
admit that She had a lead Of fifty
yards before he could strike his bes
gait. Then for few moments hs
could not seem to gain an inch. Bu
the mare was blowing herself. ani
, Skipper was taking it coolly. He wa
putting the pent up energy Of weeks
into his strides. Once he saw he wa
, overhauling her he steadied to tn,
work.
/ Just as Skipper was about to forg'
ahead Reddy did a queer thing. Witt
his right hand he grabbed the roal
with a nose pinch grip. and with tn
left he pulled in on the reins. 1t was
great disappointment to Skipper. 70
:, he had counted on showing the roal
!. his heels. Skipper knew after two o
three experiences of this kind that thi
0 was the usual thing
Those We're glorious runs. though
Skipper wished they would come NOR
: often. Sometimes there would be tw
Z and even three in a day. Then a fort
: night or 30 would pass without a singl
D runaway on Shippers beat. But dut
10 dnty