The sun., 1908-10-05
WOMAN KILLED IN RUNAWAY.
!. <. VAN CLEAF'S HORSE TOOK
FRIGHT AT AN ENGINE. I

.. r = e N
TIE was GIvIns HIs sO.YeaF-0ld neither
Drive when tho Hoese EBelted nc .
FIRE Enstns's whistle ard Threw Her
over the DashbOard- Son AIso InJured
Mrs Isabella Van Cleaf Of 70 West
Forty ninth street died In the J. Hood
Wright Hospital last night from injuries
received In runaway. The horse. which
was driven by Mrs, Van Cleaf's con, John
@. Van Cleaf. vioe-president the 'Mutual
Bank at l2s2 Broadway. smashed the
rBnabout against pillar Of the subway
vladuct at iss III street and broadway,
Mr.. Van Cleaf broke a rib and suffered
internal injuries. but was able to 90 home
: Mr., Van Cleaf had started out earlier
In the afternoon to take his mother foI
an extended drive. Mrs; Van Cleas wal
about 10 years old and her favorite recrea'
ton had been driving. accompanied by
her SON. They were coming. down Broad
way at i6sd street shortly after6 O'Clock
when the bell and whistle OF Engine 80.
coming from quarters at Amsterdam
avenue and i5Sd street. sounded. The
crew was on its way to fire In ilsth street
and was taking Broadway as the best
course. ia ~
/ As the engine approached MIR. Van
Cleaf's spirited horse started 10 run. The
firepen. seeing the difficulty. silenced the
bell and whistle andSslowed up. but the
frightened horse went on.
The street was sprinkled with auto
mobiles and lighter driving vehicles and
there were many escapes from collision
as Mr.. Van Cleaf's horse gained speed.
The fire engine was distanced. Sergt
Casey Of the motor cy Gle poles squad
started In chase after the runaway, fol
lowed closely by Bicycle Policeman Nc
Cough and White.
Van Cleaf held the rel ns with both han6s
until. when crossing one Of the streets.
Mrs. Van Cleaf narrowly escaped being
thrown out. Then he held his mother
with his right hand. Finally he shouted
to her to grab his arm with both hands.
Several times at street crossings both
were jolted from their seats.
Sergt. Casey, at his best speed. could
only trail the rig. He shouted q warn
ing to Van Cleaf as the rig approached the
pillars OF the viaduct. where the subway
leaves the ground, to mount the trestle
but the driver had 30 lost control Of the
morse that the rlg was BWerv1ng badly.
The horse collided with pillar but missed
striking Il squarely and was not badly
injured The rig crashed against II.
Mrs. Van Cleaf was thrown over the
dashboard and landed under the horses
feet. Van Cleaf fell on his head further
ont IN the street. The horse partly re-
leaeed itself from the harness, and Tor Q
few moments Mrs. Van Cieaf was not
in danger OF being trampled upon. A
passing vehicle caused the animal tc
rear and 6ergt Casey, who had dis
mounted from his motor cycle. barely had
q chance to pull Mrs. Van Cleaf to a place
Of safety. She was bleeding from deep
gash In the head.
]. Hood Wright Hospital Is located at
1Sist street, near Amsterdam avenue,
only q few blocks distant, and SerRt.
Casey lost no time getting there for an
ambulance. The surgeon who returned
found Mrs. Van Cleaf unconscious and
suffering from q fractured skull. She
died about an hour later on. the oper-
ating table.
Mr.. Van Cleaf, In his apartment at the
Hawthorne. 70 West Forty-ninth street,
was reported later In the night a. resting
easily. He had been living there for the
past month with his mother. Before that
they lived In Jersey. ~