Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-01
Steers BitIess Mail-wagon Horse
Through Four Corners
Big Crowd.
HUMMEL'S HEROISM
SAVES MANY FROM INJURY
Traffic Squad Members Shoe
Torn Off Before He Halts
Postal Steed.

A plunging. rearing horse attached to
n mail wagon at the homeward rush
hour last night dashed through
labyrinth of vehicles and hundreds OF
people at the Four Corners, and the
word "rniraculous'' but family describes
the escape from fatality. There was
a spectacular feature when John Hum
mel. one of the traffic policemen, swing
ing like q pendulum as he held to the
horses head, was carried from the
Four Corners to the Central station be-
fore the affrighted animal was stopped,
So. It was shortly after 6 o'clock that the
animal, lazily doing in front of the
postofflce, pricked up its ears at the
screech of a passing automobile. Ih1
driver was in the seat and gave an
extra wrap to the reins as the animal
started off on gallop south on Broad
street. 1t didn't take him long to find
out that he was dealing with first
class runaway and that the horse had
the "bit in his teeth"
Hundreds of shop girls and clerks
were pouring from department stores
those who were crossing the street had
to step lively. AS the horse gained
speed the mail wagon swerved from
side to side of the street and threat
ened to jump up on the sidewalk. Eye
witnesses stood thrilled as they saw the
animal and wagon side-swipe half q
dozen vehicles and just miss a score of
persons.
Driver Hurled from Wagon.
At the northwest corner of Broad and
Market streets the horse got into jam
caused by big furniture van. AS the
horse stopped with jolt the driver
was thrown a complete somersault and
landed on his feet.
Then he ran like a scared deer and
was lost in the -Four Corners crowd.
Several persons, including John Hum
mel. of the traffic squad, ran up to
grab the horse. The moving van drew
away, giving the stamping horse an
opening, and he leaped off just as Hum
mel grabbed him by the head The
bride had been torn off in the mixup
Across Market street the horse few
with Hummel hanging on for dear life
Hundreds held their breath, expecting
every minute to see the runaway crash
into one of the vehicles or foot passen-
Eers that serve to make the Four Cor
ners the second busiest spot in the
world.
great crowd followed in the wake
of the runaway, yelling encouragement
TO the plucky policeman, who had a
grim hold on the horses neck. Finally
the animal was stopped at the Central
station, and the policeman was cheered
by the crowd. Then search was made
for the driver, but apparently he was
not TO be found
Modest PoIicemnn's story.
"It was nothing" said Patrolman
Hummel, who is one Of the modest
policemen of the department.
'I saw the horse come tearing down
the street and knew that lives were
imperiled made q lunge for the
animal. When I grabbed the reins l
saw that the bit was broken and was
compelled to hold the horse by the
neck The horse dragged me along and
I managed to steer him between an
automobile and large wagon when he
shook me off My shoe was torn on
and the horse stepped on my foot"
patrolman Jacob Fine and William
Douglass, of the traffic squad, also
made attempts to get at the horse.
Fine ran several yards after the ami
NAL but could not reach him. Douglass
who was on the opposite curb, tried to
cut the horse off but was brushed
aside.