The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-24
Drivers Nerve
 Saved Dr. And
 Mrs. ". H. Lewis
Did Wonderful Work in Pre-
 venting Catastrophe in Spec tacular Runaw::y Yesterday

Thanks to tho great courage and wonderful driving of Eugene Harris, 8 veteran driver in the employe of the Banks Livery stable, Rev. Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Lewis, are none the worse today for the nerve-shaking runaway in which they figured yesterday af- ternoon when on the way to attend the funeral of Mrs. David Thompson.
 The runaway itself was one of the most spectacular and remarkable that ever occurred in the city of Bridge port and spectators who saw the ve- hicle carecning down Park avenue at express train speed thought that the driver and the two occupants of the coupe were surely doomed.
 Twice the carriage, pulled by two maddened horses, circled the tract at Seaside park at the. corners of which the Barnum and Howe monuments are situated. How the driver ever suc- ceeded in turning the horses from the sea-wall on these two occasions is a marvel to everyone, including the drivl CT himself. When he finally succeed ed in running the vehicle into a small tree stopping the carriage and liber- eting the horses. pr. and Mrs. Lewis were almost at a loss to credit their senses at the unexpected deliverance, Tor Sne Neh1Cie ndO come WltHln a hairs breadth of going over the sea- wall on four occasions. and was on two wheels most of its remarkable journey. swaying and careening from side to side in hair-raising fashion.
 Both Dr. and Mrs. Lewis paid the highest tribute to Driver Harris this morning and said that they felt they owe their lives to his courage and skill.
 ''I cannot compliment him too high ly.'' declared Mrs Lewis. "I think that his work was simply wonderful. Dr Lewis was equally eulogistic of Mir. Harris and sought him out today to express his gratitude.
 The coupe, pulled by two powerful horses. was proceeding down Park ave- nue yesterday afternoon about 2 o'clock It had just passed under the railroad~Iaduct when a steamroller at work in the road suddenly emitted an ear-splittine blast of steam.
 One of the horses shied hard. throw ing his mate against a passing Ice wagorfsN Before the driver could right the confusion one of the double reins was pulled out of place, some of the harness gave way, and the two horses were ont of control. dashing like mad down the street one of them several feet in advance of the other
 At the topmost speed of the fright ened animals, the coupe dashed down the street. The reins exercised not the slightest influence on the foremost horse. and Driver Harris was able to guide the vehicle only by pulling with superhuman strength against the oth- CT animal
 The runaways dashed down Park avenue, through the park and straight for the sea wall. At the Howe monu- ment. Driver Harris made a desperate effort to turn, and the runaways swayed to the right the vehicle skid ding in the road and just missing the edge of the sea wall.
 At the Barnum monument, the ye- hicle made another turn. and the run away horses passed twice around this big tract in the park, turning once again about the Howe monument and missing the sea wall by a narrow margin.
 Driver Harris at last succeeded in getting the horses off the road and into a clump of trees. The vehicle bumped among several until the traces snapped, the coupe came to a stop and the horses dashed on. They were finally captured.
 Driver Harris was cut upon sthe face by the limbs of trees. and his hands were cut by his tremendous pulls up- on the reins. How he managed to keep his precarious seat on top of the coupe. he hasn't the slightest idea.
 Driver Harris is very modest about his work in sticking to the runaway the way he did.
 I'd stay until the last crash" was all he had to say, when asked about it this morning
 Aside from a severe shaking-up, and the shock to their norves, Dr. and Mrs. Lewis were not hurt