New-York tribune., 1908-10-05
KILLED In WILD RIDE
DASH DOWN BROADWAY.
hrs. Isabella Van Cleaf Loses Life,
and Her Son, the Banker, Is Hurt.

Frightened by a passing fire engine, high
spirited horse attached to a light runaboUt
wagon bolted at 153d street late YESTERDAY after
noon and after wild dash Of more than mile
down Broadway, in which hundreds Of Sunday
promenaders narrowly escaped injury, struck
subway pillar at 132d street, killing Mrs. Isa-
belle Van Cleaf. seventy years Old of No. 20
West 49th street. and njuring her son. John c.
Van Cleaf, e-president of the Mutual Bank,
at No. 1889 Broadway.
Mr. Van Cleaf. who is fifty years old, left his
home with his mother for drive up Lafayette
Boulevard. About o'clock he turned his
horses head homeward striking Broadway at
159th street. At 153d street the whistle of fire
engine warned him TO pull in close to the curb
which he did. The engine, which was on its
way, at breakneck speed. to fire at No. 800
West 145th ST. aet opposite the runa bout
when the horse. frightened by the changing bells
and the general uproar. tcok@tEe BIT iii his teeth
and ran.
Although Mr. Van Cleaf pulled and tugged at
the rens his efforts unavailing, and for
eight blocks the runaway and the fire engine
raced neck and neck Patrolmen. warned by the
fire engine whistle. had cleared the street and
several threw themselves at the horses head
but were not able to grasp the harness Hun
dreds lined the walks and the parkway in the
centre of the street. and cried out with horror
when they saw Mr.. Van C'Ieaf tugging at the
lines with one hand and holding his mother with
the other
At 15Oth street Bicycle PatroIman James L.
White jumped on his wheel as the runaway
passed him and started in pursuit Several
times he got alongside the horse. when the ami
NAL would leap TO side and evade his out
stretched hand When t45th street was reached
the engine driver who had been struggling to
l.
to the fire. The runaway horse kept on down
Broadway, with Patroman White fighting
valiantly to get his hands on the bride At
141th street Bicycle Patrolman McCough and
Sergeant Casey the terror OF the automobile
speeders. on a motor cycle. had taken up the
chase
Try they would the three patrolmen could
not overtake the crazed animal which passed
block after block With sign Of tiring with
Mr. Van Cleaf struggling desperately either to
throw the horse bring him to stop All
along the way women and children ran wildly
TO safety.
When 1926 street reached the horse
which up to this time had made his flight on
the west side of the street. frightened bv the
noise OF the motorcycle. Casey having almost
reached his head the side next the curb
turned and tried to cross to the east side The
horse struck one of the pillars of the subway
overhead structure gancing blow which
knocked him TO his knees. The wagon was
thrown against another pillar and the TWO occu-
pants thrown high in the air.
Mrs. Van Cleaf, who during the entirs chase
had shown little emotion. convinced that her
son would conquer the horse i'm the end struck
on her head on the rough pavement. Her son
staggered 10 his feet in dazed manner and
seeing his mother to her side. White Nc
Cough and Casey. who so close wnen the
crash came that they barely saved themselves
raised the from the street and carried
her to the sidewalk. An ambulance from the
!. Hood Wright Hospital was soon on the scene
and mother and hurried TO that insti-
tuition.
Mrs Van Cleaf was taken at once TO the
operating table. but her skull had been fract-
ured and she died hour after reaching the
hospital Her son, after his injuries had been
treated went to his home. He is an experienced
horseman After being thrown to his knees by
the force of the collision the horse got up and
ran two more blocks, with the remnants of the
runabout gathering at his heels \ bystander
caught him
During the chase many automobiles took part
and II was owing them that Sergeant CASEY
was not able to put the full speed or his ma
chine for the drivers of the cars kept him con-
stantIy lodging from one side of Broadway TO
the other.