Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-25
PENNYPACKER NARROWLY ESCAPED
DEATH WHEN HORSE RAN WILD
Steed Bolted When Breech-Band Broke at Top of
Hill Near oeniXville-Carriage Was Wrecked,
but Governor Escaped Unscathed

the family of Senator Pennybacker and
had some correspondence with him.
On October I presided at a meeting in
the Academy OF Music, in Philadelphia
rendered by the United Irish League TO
John E. Redmond, the Irish Parliamentary
leader accompanied by two members OF
Parliament Captain A. J. c. Donehan, OF
Cork, and Patrick OBrien, Of Kilkenny.
Archbishop Ryan, an exceedingly able,
bland and persuasive man, participated.
On October I was at York to attend the
fair. the guest Of Senator Il. *. Meconlscy.
At the horse race tho driver Of tho lead
Ing horse, as he approached the goal
gently dropped the lines. His arms fell
to his side and he rolled out upon the
track dead.
On November is Mrs. Pennypacker and
T. upon the invitation or nir. George w.
Athcrton the president Of tho state College,
attended the dedication Of the Carnegie
Library connected with that institution,
Mr.. and Mrs Carnegie and MIR. and Mts.
Charles NJ Schwab were there, and since
VIC spent day or 'two with them in the
same house we reached n stage of aC.
quantancc. We found Schwab healthy
hearty and earnest, and Carnegie shrcwd
and agreeable. Tho latter gave much at.
teutlon to Mrs Pcnnypacker and told her
many incidents Of his carly life, and she
has never been willing to listen to critical
comments concerning him since. The coat
of my evening suit Of clothes was missing
and | was compelled to appear at the
table in street costume, Mrs. Penny packer
made her own explanations to account
for my costume, and Mr. Carnegie ac.
cepted and covered them up with both
Graciousness and adroitncss. Carnegie
Schwab and | made addresses and MrT.
Carnegie expressed pleasure at seeing and
hearing such an exhibition Of state pride
o feeling, she said, utterly noncAistcnt in
New York.
A Narrow Escape
On Sunday, December (, I had Il per.
sonal adventure. William y. Hunsickcr
the farmer at PcnnypaCker's Mills, drove
me in a buggy, with a rather wild horse,
John" to PhocniXville. A mile from that
town the elevated divide between the Pcr.
Eiomcn Creek and the schuylkln River falls
abruptly toward the river. There is a
very lblEb steep anu hdllEGlOuS llll' tue
road I'm the valley below crossing a ravine
and small stream by means of a narrow
uncovered and unprotected bridge. Deep
Eullics parallel the road on each side. AS
a general thing travellers make a dctour
of about a mile to avoid this sudden de-
scent. For some reason lIunscker con.
cludcd to drive down the hill At the very
top the breech.band broke, letting the har-
ness fail upon the heels of the horse. lie
gave a kick, knocking the shafts TO pieces,
and started on a wild run. I'VE are in
for il, Hunscker. Keep in the middle of
the road, if you can" were the only words
uttered. The wagon swayed to and fro
toward the gullies. IGunsicker's hat flew
in one direction and mina in another.
My umbrella was tossed into n gutter.
When VIC reached tho little bridge. where
HunsCker succeeded in bringing the horse
to a stop, John" was badly injured, and
the wagon a wreck, but neither of us
had a scratch. 1t was an experience to be
remembered but not to be repeated.
Tomorrow the FIRST part Of Governor Penny
1908. will he printed.