The Minneapolis journal., 1905-10-07
ALL, ALL ALONE
IN RUNAWAY AUTO
Patrolman Greer Passes Thru a
Distressing Experience With
out Injury.
He Gould Steer but He Couldn't
Stop the Big Ma
chine.

All Minneapolis was saved from sud-
den Death and destruction today thru
the bravery and versatility of Patrol
man F. S.. Greer, who adorns the cross
ing at Third street and First avenue
s half the time each day. When devas,
automobile, driverless and on a ram
page, loomed up before him soon after
8 am, he did not hesitate. Cinching
his belt two holes tighter, he vaulted
the runaway machine as it sped by him
and, grasping the tiller, or, more cor
rectly, the steering wheel, in his strong
right and left, he began his wild ride
about the city, a ride that put the IA
nous rides Of John Gilpin and Tam
O'Shanter to the bad entirely.
The owner Of the runaway machine
had stepped into the postoffee, leaving
the big. car at the curb with the engine
stin rlnning. The Earring caused by
the engine and the slight down grade
threw the gearing into business posi-
tion. With wild snort and a couple
Of chugs Of freedom, the red monster,
its engines painting with joy, and exhal-
ing an opaque cloud of petrol vapor,
started out to burn up the town,
It had reckoned without considering
the many accomplishments and abili-
ties Of Patrolman Greer. Hardly had
man spotted an infraction of the auto
mobile ordinance, which states that it is
not good form to allow automobiles to
run at large. a
Johnny on the Spot. :.
Experience had taught him how to
steer horses, bicycles and even drunks.
Why hesitate at an automobiles AS
the machine sped by he mounted the
steering wheel. His troubles did not
end here. He could steer it but could
not stop it. a dozen levers and but
tons were at his command, but which
| to command was one better than is
taught in Mayor Jones' school for po-
lice officers. r..s, -: & 4
With his weather eye open for the
| clear places and few pieces Of good
pavement from First avenue to the
northward he began to work on the
| problem. Lever No: ! caused the ma
nigh jerked the head from the brawny
| shoulder of the chauffeur. Lever No. 2
caused it to begin bucking and skidding
and ended up by backing the outfit
/ down the street toward the river. This
| would never !. do so No. 2 was pulled
\ to its original position. With a
| happy thought he started to beach the
monster on the curbing. Straight fo1
| the curb he steered and over the curb
he went. A1few swift turns Of the til.
Ter and some rapid trimming of the
main sheet saved costly plateglass
window in a beer store.
Ran Around the Block.
Discretion is the better part Of valo1
and the runaway was set to doing laps
around the block, the idea Of the cap
tor being to keep it moving in the clear
/ until it ran out of juice or acquired 8
hot box. On lap No. g., the owner
came out still smiling as one who has
received good news from home. Jus,
as captive and captive captor were
starting around the corner for lap No
4 10, he tumbled and with "a wild vel
started in pursuit. 81 s 5
Automobile thief, he screamed.
4 Cooler heads stopped him and ex
4 planned the situation. - AS the pantins
monster came around for the home
stretch of lap No. 10, the explanation
were finished. The owner duplicated
the performance Of the patrolman, th,
machine felt the masterhand once NOR,
4 and came to a dead stop. Mutual con
II gratulations were exchanged and lif,
on the corner of Third street and FRS
avenue s resumed the usual even teno
Of its ways. .zs..s.. IS 5zs=s.