The evening world., 1908-02-19
MADDENED FIRE
HORSES RUN AWAY
FOR FIVE MILES
Brides Slip from the Animals
Heads and They Start
on Wild Dash.
PEDESTRIANS IN PERIL.
Three Firemen Made Uncon-
scious by Smoke Rescued
by Comrades.
PEDESTRIANS IN PERIL.

While dashing to third alarm fire
at No. 1872 Green street. Williamsburg,
to-day. in which three fremen were
barely saved from death, a big team of
bays drawing the tender of Engine Com
pany No. 1856 shook off their brides and
ran wildly and unchecked through five
miles of Brooklyn thoroughfares.
There were seven men on the tender
them Off one by one as they tilted and
twisted and slammed the vehicle around
corners.
The runaway. which furnished thrills
and threatened many lives along a wide
stretch of road, started near the en-
Eine house at Manhattan and Norman
streets.
Just why the brides slipped of will
be a matter Of department investiga
tion. No explanations have been If
fered 80 far. The horses went ou. OF
the engine house at a gallop made the
turn into Norman street neatly but be-
fore they had gone 100 yards their
head harness seemed TO go to pieces.
the DTfNleS SllpplHH OH anu Iile UlNs
dropping from their mouths.
Smash Telegraph Pole.
Both are spirited animals and when
they found they were free they seemed
to shut their eyes and bolt. At the
corner OF Manhattan and Norman
streets they swung shortly in long
leaps, twisting the tail OF the tender
that II smashed against telegraph
pole.
This jolted the driver off on his chest
and he slid along in the snow unin-
tured. The six other men on the tender
hung or desperately FOR two blocks
more. until series of jclts and ter
r1fc swings whirled them OFF on the
pavement.
As the. last man was toppled Off the
tender almost capsized from the shock
It got against a milk wagon. The milk
wagon succumbed. however, and the
tender righted. Empty OF passengers, 1t
set out on its five-mile unguided fight.
Policemen Try to Stop Them.
Mile after miles the tender sped along
Manhattan avenue its bell changing
and Banging from the terrific jolting the
vehicle got
licemen rushed out and waved their
hands at the salloping horses. Several
caught at the fying ends of harness
and were dragged along in the snow
until the wet leashes slipped from their
grip.
From police station to police station
word was telephoned of the career of
the runaway tender and bronco-break-
Ing cops were sent out to lasso them or
get In their way or build a stone wall
or erect a barrier In front of them.
But the big team of bays was not to
be caught until they had practically
run themselves of their shoes. Then as
their breath came In short. hard gasps
and their hoofs slipped and bent on the
slippery pavement they were met by
two giant COPS at Wythe avenue and
Rutledee street. The policemen had
ropes and stretched them across the
street so that they caught the runaways
at the throats. This checked them. and
they came to q painting standstill thor
oughly done UP.
None of the smoke eaters who were
snapped of tho tender were injured.
Three Mon Unconscious.
The tenement house, \ three STORY
double-decker, was occupied by twelve
families, most OF them foreigners.
The fire started in the hallway on tho
lower floor and was burning furiously
before 1t was discovered
Frremen Maloney and Kelly. OF Engine
Company No. Ills. and Gallagher, OF .
truck company located In Greenpoint.
were assisting in tho work of rescue.
They handed down a score Of screaming
tenants to the other firemen and then
entered the apartments on the second
door. They failed to appear and other
firsmen. were sent to search for them.
The three men were unconscious and
were carried to the fire ladders with
difficulty.