Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-16
.TY COBB PRAISES
BOY SCOUTS FEAT
Merrill Cole Wins Applause of
Fair Fhrong by His Reck-
less Courage.
HOLDS TIGHT TO WILD. PONY
Exhibition, Not on Program,
Proves Thrilling Event of
Day at State Fair.

Day at State Fair.
Merrill Cole, fourteen years old, a
member OF Troop Is. Highland Park,
OF the Boy Scouts OF America, thrilled
5000 spectators seated in the grand
stand at the state Fair Grounds yes
terday afternoon with an involuntary
exhibition Of reckless courage: tenacity
of purpose and physical endurance that
4 surpassed tho most hazardous feats of
the professional gymnasts. aeriallsts
and trick riders which the same au-
dience had enthusiastically applauded
within the preceding hour.
The juvenile hero Of the sensational
episode is a native Of Oklahoma, but
has lived In Richmond several years.
The daily exhibition parade OF horses
and ponies was In progress. The
largest division Of the parade was a
pony procession. the animals being ex-
hibited by local pony farm Half
score of the Bov Scouts from the Scout
camp had been pressed into service to
lead or ride the ponies in the parade.
i Young Merrill Cole. who is small in
i stature for his age, but 1.-THE and wiry
was leading a spirited pony. The
4 animal became intractiblc. Tho boy
81
Ing to keep the obstrcperous pony in
4 line. Tho pony, rcscnting the sharp
tugging. suddenly reared back on it's
i haunches. lifting the boy from his feet
4 and throwing him on the track. almost
in front OF the center OF the grand
/ stand.
roNY's FEET NAnHoWLY
MISS BOYS HEAD
shiver OF apprehension passed over
i the horrihcd spectators as the pony
i brought it's front feet down. narrowly
missing the PROSTATE lads head with
It's hoofs. Tho boy clung tcnaciously
10 the rope attached TO the halter,
while tho pony now frightened. circled
around the prone figure in the khaki
uniform. paving the ground and
matching its strength with the boys in
frenzied effort TO free itself
Falling 10 shake off the boys hold in
this manner. the pony dashed OFF down
the track. dragging young Cole at its
heels. For a distance OF fully forty
yards the Boy scout his little body
plowins up clouds of dust while /,
bumped over the track with each wild
toss OF the animals head held on
gritnly TO the rope.
Fortunately the pony had taken the
back track. where he passed in the
Wild flight q dozen more men and
boys leading other ponies. several of
whom went to the rescue OF the i'm
perilied youth. When the runaway
pony was finally caught by a brawny
team driver. young Cole was still cling
ing 10 the rope. His features were en-
vcloped in several coatings OF dust and
pcrspiration. but he scrambled TO his
feet with a grin on his face that re-
80 81.
with breathless interest from the grand
stand
As the boy stood UP on his straight.
slender legs. "A wild cheer Of delight
went up from tho grand stand Men.
women and children stood up. cheering
and applaudinE.
pLUCKY YOINtSTE,It M>t1US
NO MENTION Oh, >DyI>TrruI
nj,
mit,ed 10 rc,umn hi., ,,aco win ~
intractible nonv when 10 had hrushnd
the dust from his face with the sleeve
of his coat. but was sent from the
track. Beyond few black and blue
bruises on his arms and body. he was
unintured. lie returned to the Scout
camp and reported for the usual Scout
demonstrations at { O'Clock, half an
hour after his pcrilous adventure lie
made no mention of his experience. and
participated in the drill and Scout
games with his companions Scout
Executive Charles l.. Weaver first
learned OF the ordeal through which
the plucky member of Troop 10 had
passed when he was preparing TO dis
miss the Scouts for the day.
The little rascal never said word
to US about his adventure with that
pony said MIR. Weaver. "Of course. it
was not wise thing for him to do, but
ii shows the spirit of the boy"
That KIDS stunt is the most re-
markable exhibition OF sheer grit and
nerve l ever beheld. said Tyrus Ray