The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-31
LIVELY CHASE FOR
YOUXG P|LFERER
Stolen Automobile Wrench the
Cause of Excitement
CROWD JOINS IN PURSUIT
With Many Close Calls the Home
stretch of Impromptu Marathon
Proves to 18th Street and
Across Railroad Tracks.
CROWD JOINS IN PURSUIT


'l<erchief. the little negro ran with
the automobile wrench.
The man who owned the automobile,
having got late start called for help.
"Tief; Tier" he shouted already out
OF breath.
In the meantime the spindlelegged boy
was driven along, his feet moving faster
than the very fast wind. As he passed a
shivering policeman he lodged gingerly,
and the bluecoat almost tripped in trying
to reach him. Then a stout lady, about Y
years old. attempted 10 inject her UNI
brella between his ankles. but a clever
jump parted the trust, and on sped the
pliferer.
He glanced curously at the Birrning-
ham Trust and darted down the alley.
The owner Of the auto painted behind 70
yards. The policeman was II feet behind
The owner, while the stout lady followed
as fast as she could.
In the meantime heads were protrudins
from the windows OF the sizyscrapers. Ths
doors of the ordinary buildings were nuns
wide In spite of the biting cold. Doctors.
driving hurriedly to fearful patients.
checked rein and viewed the flight of the
thief One or more Of the reckless auto
drivers of the city crsnked up and Joined
the pursuit
In the meantime the thief had emerged
from the alley and was Swimming along
Nineteenth street Fully 10 people, by this
time, were ON his trail. Several news-
boys, DEGRADING their wares, were follow
ing fast, and all Birmingham. at a busy
hour, on a cold afternoon, was enjoying
game of hare and hound.
As the hoy struck Second avenue IL
- looked dark for him. Running headong
at remarkable speed he had collided with
the cart of rural mail deiiverer, and
had fallen sprawling in to the street. Sew
eral of the fleet newsboys were almost upon
him. while one OF the citys physicians,
who at college won prizes for speed, was
in mad pursuit-just 40 miles an hour.
But as luck would have it, a street car
drew itself slowly between the fallen
thief and those about to nab him, and
when the obstacle had moved along the
little COON" half block ahead, was run
ming at full tilt.
'Oh thou Johnny Hays in his prime. "
shouted an ardent lover of the Marathon
game. as the little negro, with remarkable
endurance, was steadily gaining.
In the meantime the physician was his
source of greatest danger. Behind him
moved a dozen newsboys. Behind them
followed three automobiles; carriage
was next in order The very stout lady
game TO the core, was still on the trail
The owner of the stolen property wa:
next in line, while behind them al
trudged the assiduous bluecoat.
Down Second avenue the negro few. i
had now become struggle for suprem-
acv between the thief and the feet physi'
clan. Merchants ran to the front. shoI
girls stroled leisurely forward, and witt
elevated eyebrows expressed surprise al
the lack of dignity displayed ir
the open day Out OF the Bell Tele
phone building 100 dainty girls protruded
their heads, while hundreds of angry
natr.,ns. hunting connections" were
foaming distances away.
The negro. passing The Age-Heraid. was
four feet and six inches in advance OF
the physician. One of the newsboys had
fallen by the wayside. One OF the three
automobiles had gone to the bad" One
of the carriages horses, having thrown
a. shoe, was causing the driver much dis
tress on account OF a danger that at the
killing he might not be. The owner OF tbs
stolen property, with tongue extending
was still in the ring, as was the very
stout woman. But the policeman. ex-
hausted declining to relieve his burden
by discarding a gigantic club had stopped
at Adams to get dope"
Down Eighteenth street turned the
speedy thief. But four feet behind was
the physician, and II bets on the outcome
of the sprint were recorded. Faster few
each runner, each extending himself
Ii was a home stretch, and the audience
was alive to the situation. Cheer after
cheer rung out. College girls waved theil
banners.
''IIurrah for the thiefl' one factor
shouted. while another. with money OF
the doctor. urged him on with cries o.
encouragement
1.-THE thief must be caught" cried 4,
excited telephone girl from the top of TIL,
building where for better view she hat
gone. "for that mean old freight train i
crossing the streetl'
And such was the case. But the THE
hesitated not for the physician was a
his heels. With remarkable daring-s
daring was he. In fact, that the hair c
the physician was seen to rise on hi
head-the little negro SKINNED the COW
catcher of the engine and passed, in
cloud of smoke. beyond the train.
Fourteen. IS. %. o. 80 cars were lazil
pulling themselves across the track.
The newsboys had overtaken the phys
clan. and were standing impatiently wit
him. Then there arrived two automs
biles and soon another. Two of the ca
riages which pursued with foaming stee
came to an impromptu halt. the driver
swearing like villains under their breath
The owner of the stolen property wa
next to arrive. The very stout woma
fumed up, all out of breath but game
the core, and she shook her umbrella, d,
fant still. Then, arrived the policeman
the stimulant having renewed his wind.
And when the last car-the caboose
had Numbered across the street. confron
ing those grown mad with the lust of pu
suit-was nothing at all.
And the trail was lost.
Typhoid In Montreal.
Montreal, December 30.-A canvass {
f1,a pYfvate practfffonArs In Moutre