Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-03
HEAD HUNG IN RAIL,
BOYBLOCKS BRIDGE
Famous London Westminster
Traffic Halts Hour and Halt
to ExtriCate Him.
BY Cable to The Star and New York worl

BY Cable to The Star and New York World
LONDON, July 3.-I.ittie Danny
Riordan. 6, took look at the Thames
River and incidentally halted Lon
don's north and south bound traffic
over Westminster Bridge one hour and
half. Danny's desire for a view of
the famous river neCessitated the mo-
biliZation of strong force of police,
two fire engines. one motor ambu-
lance. a police tug and auxiliary boats
on the river below the bridge. three
doctors a squad OF workmen with
scaffoldinE. hacksaws. hammers and
coldchisels, etc But Danny is quite
all right now. thank you. though the
bridge is a bit Clipped
Danny strolied over Westminster
Bridge with big brother" who is s.
and a small sister. and nothing would
atsfy him but closeup of the river.
His solution Of the difficulty of sur
mounting the balustiades which We're
too high for his inches was To stick
his head through one of the trefoil-
shaped openings in the ironwork. The
big brother attempted to dissuade him,
but Danny figured he could just get
his head through. He could-hut he
couldn't get it back.
Begins TO Scream.
The points of the trefoil edges are
only Az inches apart, and the entire
aperture was most unsuitable for
withdrawing anything shaped like a
human head. Danny had his look at
the river and began to scream when
he realized his predicament.
A crowd gathered and police swarm
ed to dispense the crowd. The police
h.
tempted to free the child. hut without
the bridge hurried. and to facilitate
rescue operati from both sides they
fitted up a pla tform outside the haius-
trade. There being danger of some
of the rescuers falling from the plat
form into the river, a boat was or
dered to stand by.
St Thomas Hospital being quite
handy. medical aid was summoned.
and before the motor ambulance
turned out. three doctors armed with
surgical and other appliances arrived.
The doctors sent back for large guam
titles of vaseline and oil and proceeded
to smear the screaming boys head
and the metal work combining him
with the mixture. much TO the salts
faction of knowing ones among the
crowd.
But Danny's head could not he ex-
tracted from the trap. The only So
luton seemed to he cutting away the
iron work. but neither police nor help
ers had any authority to chop up
Westminster Bridge, which is the
property of the London County Coun-
ell. Fortunately the l.. &. G.. hall was
only a few hundred yards away, on
the south side of the bridge and a
policeman FASTENED there to obtain
permission.
The officials realized prompt action
was necessary, so they did not sum
mon a special council meeting. A
member of the highway and bridges
committee took the responsibility on
himself and courteously gave permits
sion for the removal of such small
sections of the bridge balustrade as
might be necessary.
A hacksaw was brought into use.
but without much success. Brass
helmeted firemen who had arrived in
two fire engines brought their axes
into play. but the ironwork was too
thick. and eventually the rescue was
effected by chipping away pieces with
a cold chisel Meanwhile two hospital
students held the boy and protected
his neck with cotton, wool, lint and
other stuff.
The boy was rushed to st. Thomas
Hospital in the motor ambulance. pur-
pie in the face but little the worse for
his experience except for few lacera-
tons behind the ears, caused by his
first efforts to free himself. After d
short while he was we'll enough to be
sent home. presumably We'll satisfied
with his view of the Thames. and ex-
cited crowds regretfully resumed their
journeys.
tCopyrisht. 1920