In Horse and Buggy Days, Runaways Brought All The Excitement and Danger
Frightened horses and drivers, broken wagons and buggies, occasional injuries, and sometimes death. In the days before automobiles and trucks appeared on the scene, and even after they became more commonplace, horse-drawn vehicles were indispensable to the workings of a town like Burlington. But occasionally a horse or team would become unruly or frightened, the horse would break its restraint or the driver would lose control, and a runaway would be on. (Illustrations from Ghosts of Baltimore and other internet sources.)
The Burlington newspapers of the time reported such runaways in sometimes colorful and usually interesting fashion, as the following examples attest.
May 1881 -- Johnny Gill, a lad of ten or twelve years of age, was driving a team down Chestnut street yesterday, when the horses became frightened and started on a brisk run toward the river. The little fellow braced himself and hung to the lines like a young hero, and succeeded without assistance, in bringing the team to a stop on the east side of White river, near the old woolen mill [the mill was located about where Veterans Terrace is now]. No damage was done.
June 1881 -- Nick May's horse had a lively run last Sunday afternoon, while the baptismal services were in progress at the river near the lower water power. The horse broke loose from a tree to which he was tied and started instantly on a dead run. He ran about 10 rods and jumped over a fence leaving the buggy behind, which was badly demoralized, as was also the harness.
June 1881 -- The regular weekly runaway came off without previous announcement on last Saturday afternoon, the scene of action being between the Catholic Church (St. Mary's annex) and the depot (the old St. Paul depot located west of McHenry street), and from thence westward to within a short distance of Lyons.
The team belonged to Mr. Ed. Adams, of Rochester, and the whole thing proved lively and interesting, but somewhat disastrous.
When near the Catholic Church, the team became frightened and started out on a good, square run. The pole having dropped, the team became unmanageable and finally ran into some trees at the side of the road, breaking the wagon badly. The horses having become detached from the wagon, started off at a speed something less than a mile a minute and, becoming separated, one horse took one direction while the other took a different course. Coming to the depot, where the freight train was standing, one of the horses became so badly frightened that he started pell-mell over the depot platform between the train and depot, up the track, over the cattle guards, and out of sight in the direction of Lyons. Mr. Adams boarded the train and started in pursuit of the flying animal (for he was just flying when last seen), and found him complacently feeding in a cornfield just this side of Lyons. One horse was badly bruised about the limbs, but the other was only slightly injured.
July 1881 -- A frightful runaway occurred at this place last Friday morning resulting in no serious damage to the team but severely bruising Mr. P. H. Cunningham, who stopped the horses at the risk of his life. The team started from the stable of Mr. Brehm (which was located on the corner of Madison street and what is now N. Perkins boulevard) and ran furiously toward the river, then taking a turn ran up Calumet street to Chestnut, and up Chestnut to Pine, when Mr. Cunningham, at the risk of his life or at least of broken limbs, seized hold of the bits of one of the horses as the team was flying past, which threw one horse down, Mr. Cunningham falling under the horse. Both were dragged through the mud for a rod or two, but the badly frightened horses were thus brought to a stop directly in front of Martin & Sheldon's store (the corner where Chase Bank is now located). Mr. Cunningham was badly bruised about the face and hands, had a bad cut on the right knee, and his clothes were torn and covered with mud.
Pat ran a great risk of being killed, but he stopped the team, and although sorely bruised and lamed, he changed his clothes and went to Geneva Lake to enjoy a day at that pleasant resort accompanied by his wife and two lady friends.
September 1881 -- A lively runaway occurred at this place last Friday morning at an early hour. The team was hitched to a post in front of George Verhalen's store (on Chestnut street west of the "bend"), when becoming frightened or greatly annoyed by flies, they broke their halter straps and started at a terrific gait towards the depot (west of McHenry street). The buses were just returning from the morning train, and when George Darling saw them coming, he naturally concluded they had the "right of way," and accordingly he "side-tracked" on a street coming West, while John Schumacher with the Exchange House bus took an Easterly direction, and both got out of that vicinity quicker than it takes to tell it. But the team sped on, and were finally brought to a halt a short distance beyond the Catholic Church (St. Mary's), and driven back to Chestnut street from whence they started.
April 1882 -- A lively runaway occurred on Chestnut street early yesterday morning. The team of fine gray horses owned by Mr. Wm. Finke, and attached to his brewery delivery wagon, came tearing down the street, going directly toward the White River bridge. At the corner of Chestnut and Dodge streets, one horse made up his mind to turn to the right, while the other was as equally determined to keep on straight ahead. They compromised suddenly, however, and split the difference--striking the sign post in front of Wm. Falk's wagon shop, knocking it and the sign it supported flat to the ground. This sudden collision detached the horses from the wagon, broke the harness badly, threw the wagon upside-down, damaging it but slightly. The horses were brought to a halt after proceeding a few blocks, when it was found that they had sustained no serious injury. It was indeed a very fortunate result of what might have been a serious runaway.
May 1883 -- The bridge builders employed by the C. M. & St. P. Railway Co. in driving piles and repairing bridges near this village met with quite an adventure last Thursday morning while on their way from the Western Union Hotel to the depot. The team attached to the wagon in which ten or twelve workmen were being conveyed to their work either became frightened or the driver undertook to race with the Exchange House bus, and soon went dashing along at a fearful rate of speed until the wagon struck a hitching post when the whole outfit came to a sudden and unceremonious stop, throwing the boys heels over head, helter skelter into one conglomerated heap of frightened humanity, bruising several, scratching others and scaring the whole party nearly out of their wits.
April 1884 -- Dr. M. T. Darling met with quite an adventure last Thursday, while out in the country, which came near resulting fatally. He was riding in his buggy and leading another horse (the same one that bruised up Mr. O. W. Chandler, and ran through a fence with Frank J. Ayers some time since) when the animal jumped, and striking the doctor knocked him over the dash-board of the buggy upon the thills. This frightened the horse he was driving and he started on a run throwing Dr. Darling to the ground, dislocating his shoulder and otherwise bruising him. He was brought to his home in this village and Doctors Dyer, Cooper and Hicks visited him, replacing the dislocated joint and placing him in a fair way to speedy recovery. It is a great wonder the Doctor was not more seriously injured. That horse will be the death of somebody yet.
May 1884 -- Brother Brook, of Kenosha County, came up to this place last Saturday to show our horsemen some feats in horse-training. He drives the black horse that broke up friend Chandler, dislocated Dr. Darling's shoulder and badly frightened neighbor Ayers, some months ago, and Brother Brook knowing that the horse is a terror to the town delights in showing how easily and with what perfect security (?) he can be driven with a patent safety bit. The horse was hitched into Chandler's cart, and remembering his former adventure, instantly commenced climbing fences to the damage of said cart and the dismay of all present. After taking the bit in his teeth and dashing through a fence or two he was brought to a halt, when it was found that the harness was demoralized; the cart somewhat the worse for wear, and brother Brook somewhat disarranged, having received slight injuries on the hand and side. Mr. Chandler had intended to drive this terror of the woods again, but will probably defer the matter.
May 1884 -- Mr. E. Benson narrowly escaped a disastrous runaway last Saturday morning. He was going through the streets of this village with a team attached to a double wagon and driven by a young boy; at the rear end of the wagon his horse which was attached to a buck-board was tied, and sitting on the end of said buck-board Mr. Benson was leading two colts. When nearly opposite the First National Bank, a small dog ran into the street and barked at the colts which so badly frightened them that they jumped upon the hind wheel of the buck-board striking Mr. Benson as they jumped and completely overturning the vehicle throwing Mr. B. into the street. This frightened the horse attached to the buck-board which made frantic efforts to detach itself from the rig, and this in turn frigfhtened the double team which started at a brisk run, the boy being unable to hold them. Don. Darling seeing the dilemma in which Mr. Benson was placed, rushed manfully to the rescue, and with much danger to himself, managed to bring the team to a halt in front of Aug. Reuschlein's saloon. No damage was done, but Mr. Benson says he will give five dollars to know whose dog that was that ran out after his colts.
June 1884 -- On last Friday afternoon Mrs. Theo. Riel met with a very serious accident which came near proving fatal. She was driving down State street with a young horse attached to a light wagon when the bolt which holds the whiffletree to the shalves, came out or was broken, allowing the whiffletree to strike the horse's heels which so frightened him that he started at full speed. Turning the corner between the school house and Barney Brehm's residence, the hind wheel of the vehicle struck a hitching post bringing the buggy to a very sudden and unceremonious halt, pitching Mrs. Riel head foremost upon the hard ground, a distance of twelve or fifteen feet. She struck on her head inflicting an injury which rendered her unconscious, in which state she remained until some time yesterday forenoon. She was badly bruised and it will be some days and possibly weeks before she fully recovers from her injuries and the shock to her nervous system. Strange as it may seem the four children who were thrown from the vehicle at the same time, escaped with only a few scratches, and were about their play an hour after the occurrence. The buggy was almost a total wreck.
As we go to press we are happy to learn that Mrs. Riel is very much better and recovering rapidly.
August 1884 -- Mr. E. G. Henderson's fine team attached to his double carriage took a home run for dear life on Monday evening of last week, and were only captured after a ten mile chase, a short distance below New Munster. The team started from the street in front of Denniston's drug store [on Pine street near Chestnut street] about 9 o'clock in the evening, and it was very late that night or very early Tuesday morning when they were found. Strange to say, little or no damage resulted from the runaway, either to the horses or carriage. The harness was broken in several places, but two or three dollars would repair all damages.
September 1884 -- Billy Turner's stage team attached to his covered stage wagon, took a lively turn down Pine street last Thursday evening, making things fairly purr for a few minutes. They went down the street which was lined with teams, and managed to miss them all until they reached Laske's corner (where May's Insurance is now located) when they dodged between the saloon and the posts that support the wooden awning in front of Laske's and took the sidewalk as far as Keuper's saloon (now John's Main Event), when they took the street again, but with nothing behind them save the flying whiffletrees and a cloud of dust. This dust business may be a little overdrawn--in fact that was about the condition of the stage which had been left at the corner of Laske's building overturned by coming in sudden contact with a post. The pole was broken off short and the curtains of the stage were badly torn, but aside from a few scratches received by the frightened chargers there was no further damage done. The team was left standing for a moment in front of the Western Union Hotel (corner of Washington and Pine streets where Thrivent Financial is now located), and became frightened at something with the result as above stated.
October 1884 -- Three runaways made our streets lively at brief periods last week. A sort of harmless runaway occurred on Wednesday forenoon in which a team from the country took a tour of the town and were caught in front of Steinhoff's Hotel (corner of Washington and Pine streets). It must be a lively team that gets by that corner when the boys are all there.
On Thursday morning, however, a serious runaway occurred which resulted in a broken arm and a badly bruised head. The team belonged to and was driven by Mr. Christian Smith, who was accompanied by his son. While on Geneva street (now Milwaukee avenue) the whiffletrees became detached from the wagon frightening the horses which started up suddenly letting the tongue drop, upon which the team started at a terrific speed, and when nearly opposite George Stohr's wagon shop (where Rizzo and Diersen law firm is now located), the tongue ran into the ground throwing the wagon upside-down and the occupants violently to the ground. When they were picked up, both were insensible, and it was found upon examination that Mr. Smith's right arm was broken while the boy was terribly cut about the head, a fearful gash being cut in his head and sand and gravel being forced under the scalp upon the skull. Drs. Hicks and Darling attended the injured parties and they are both in a fair way for a speedy recovery. The only wonder is that the boy was not killed and the man more seriously injured.
Another runaway team belonging to Mr. Winkler went flying through the streets last evening with only the whiffletrees attached to them. They left the wagon at the West end of White river bridge.
May 1885 -- A lively runaway occurred on our streets last Friday morning. A horse attached to a top-buggy broke away from a hitching post in front of Jacob Gill's store and started down Chestnut street towards White river. He turned at the corner of the cheese factory and ran for dear life towards Jefferson street, and when near Mr. Smith's residence the buggy was overturned and the frightened steed caught by John Storey, who always happens to be around whenever a runaway occurs. John righted the buggy and drove the horse back to Chestnut street where the owners (two ladies) anxiously waited to see what damage had been done. Fortunately the buggy was not damaged and the horse was only slightly bruised on one hind leg. It was hard to tell which was the most frightened, the ladies or the horse.
July 1885 -- A disastrous runaway occurred at this place last Tuesday afternoon in which a brand new mower was completely demoralized, nothing being left whole but the cover to the tool box and the whiffletree pin. The team was left standing hitched to a post while the owner was "seeing a man" inside, when they took fright at a switching train, broke away from the post and struck out for home, scattering the mower which had just been purchased of Sheldon & Gill, to the four winds of the earth. There was music, sickle sections, iron rods and cursing in the air for rods around, and when the picnic closed there wasn't enough of that mower left to make a pitchfork of. The owner of the wreck stood and gazed in no good humor and "cussed" his ill luck and discussed the propriety of turning back and purchasing another mower. This he did, and now swears by all that is good that he will hitch his team no more while they are attached to a mower.
August 1885 -- There was a lively runaway at this place last Thursday afternoon, which resulted disastrously to Mr. Fred. Keuper's fence on Pine street. The team belonged to a farmer, and became frightened in the vicinity of the grist mill and started at a fearful rate of speed down Pine street. Attempting to turn down Jefferson street they apparently missed their calculation somewhat and went crashing into Mr. Keuper's picket fence, sadly demoralizing about two rods of the same, necessitating the construction of an entire new fence. Here, after taking down several posts and the fence, which they smashed into less than a million splinters, they struck a cedar tree in Mr. Keuper's yard and came to a very abrupt pause in their headlong career.
Strange as it may seem the horses were not seriously injured and the wagon was damaged to no great extent.
The only occupant of the wagon was a dog which, seeing the danger of collision, jumped to the ground and was run over by the wheels but was not seriously injured.
February 1886 -- A runaway must have occurred on Johnson street on Thursday a.m., as the debris of a farmer's bob sled with wood rack, &c, was lying against a big tree at the corner of Mr. Theodore Riel's fine estate. We trust no horses were injured. (Mr. Riel's "estate" was on the southwest corner of what is now State and Kane Streets.)
July 1886 -- An exciting runaway occurred on Geneva street last Thursday evening, which was started by the barking of a dog and ended in the barking of a tree. A team owned by a Waterford man was being driven up Geneva street when nearly opposite the residence of Mr. Francis Reuschlein a small dog ran under the wagon and commenced barking at the team. This frightened the horses and they started on a brisk run, the driver being unable to govern them in their wild career. When near the residence of George Verhalen they shied to the right and ran against the huge oak tree that stands in the middle of the sidewalk and taking a big patch of bark off the tree and sadly damaging Mr. Verhalen's large gate. The wagon pole struck the tree with terrible force breaking the neck-yoke and pole at the same moment. This separated the horses and they came tearing down the street and were caught on Chestnut street. Beside the broken wagon, the harness was badly damaged and the driver's left arm was slightly bruised. The runaway caused more excitement on the Jones House corner than a whole circus and menagerie turned loose in the streets.
April 1889 -- A drunken individual was driving a horse about the streets yesterday afternoon at a reckless rate of speed, whooping as he tore madly around the block half a dozen times and endangered the lives of our citizens who chanced to be crossing the streets. He ran into Mr. J. H. Martin's buggy, but fortunately did no damage. He was arrested later in the day by constable Reed for drunkenness and disorderly conduct, taken before Justice Reynolds and discharged. He was drunk and he was disorderly, he was driving recklessly and endangering the lives of the people, but he wasn't fined.
The supposition is that our streets are so crooked that the poor fellow couldn't get out of town but kept driving 'round and 'round that Wehmhoff and Verhalen block [bounded by what is now Chestnut and Pine streets and Milwaukee avenue] until he became dizzy and the people thought he was intoxicated.
November 1889 – An exciting runaway occurred last evening just before supper, when a team belonging to Mr. Joseph Ketterhagen went flying down Pine street at a furious rate of speed and kept it up until they reached Henry Kies’ race track (on what is now Highway 83). Here they went through a barbwire fence cutting one of the horses slightly in the breast and breaking the harness. When caught they were standing on the race track waiting for the word “go.”
November 1890 -- While a boy named Gussman was driving Jos. Wackerman's team down Pine street yesterday afternoon, the horses became frightened at the rattling of the box on the wagon and ran away. In front of Dr. Hicks' residence (corner of Pine and Jefferson streets where the Library is now located) the team collided with the buggy in which P. H. Cunningham and his boy were driving home, demolishing both wagons, harness, and piling the horses, rigs, Mr. Cunningham and his boy up in a heap. The Gussman boy fell out of the wagon before the collision and had his head cut open. Mr. Cunningham was hit in the back with the tongue of the Wackerman wagon and is quite badly hurt, while his son escaped with a few bruises and scratches.
September 1896 -- What might easily have proven a serious runaway took place last Saturday afternoon. Henry Wehmhoff and his mother had started for home and when out near F. H. Hastings' residence the horse became unmanageable. Mr. Wehmhoff was pulled out of the buggy and under the horse, but not hurt. The horse turned around and with Mrs. Wehmhoff in the buggy came through the city at break-neck speed. P. O. Briody and F. E. Stone succeeded in stopping the animal near the post office. The buggy was somewhat wrecked. Mr. and Mrs. Wehmhoff feel thankful to those who assisted in stopping the horse.
April 1899 -- A party of young folks from this city started for the Easter party at Waterford Monday evening in Foley's 'bus, with A. Bettzig driving. Just before entering the village of Rochester, and while on a turnpike, one of the horses shied to one side enough to take the 'bus off from the turnpike and tip it over. There was a mixed up mess of young people scrambling for dear life for a few minutes. But luckily only two or three received slight bruises and torn clothes. The 'bus was nearly a complete wreck.
March 1900 -- Last Sunday about noon John C. Wilson and son Alexander were returning to their home from this city when, near the Strohm farm west of town, the horse's bit gave away, letting the bit out of its mouth. The horse became unmanageable at once and started to run away. After going a short distance it suddenly wheeled about, overturning the buggy and throwing the occupants to the ground. They were left with the top of the buggy, while the horse ran off with the gear as far as Ernest Stratton's, where it was liberated from the vehicle by coming in contact with a tree. It next made a tremendous leap over a woven wire fence, causing it to break a foreleg. Mr. Wilson was badly shaken up while Alex came out unhurt. The horse had to be killed
May 1901 -- Last Saturday morning one of B. Brehm & Sons' teams ran away while standing near the Central depot. They came down Pine street and when in front of Louis Rein's meat market Frank Beller attempted to stop them. While doing so he was thrown with terrific force against a wagon loaded with lumber standing in front of Wagner's hardware store. His left arm was quite badly bruised between the shoulder and elbow and he also received a bad cut over the left eye, which had to be stitched up by Dr. Prouty, seven stitches being necessary. Mr. Beller had a very narrow escape from what might have been fatal injuries. He is able to be around now. F. H. Vos' delivery wagon was also damaged somewhat by the runaway team. They were stopped at William Rhodes' corner without doing any further damage.
May 1901 -- Frank Beller was badly bruised and cut in a serious manner while attempting to stop a runaway team belonging to B. Brehm & Sons last Saturday morning. The team was attached to a heavy coal wagon and started from the Central depot, coming down Pine street on a run. Both sides of the street were lined with teams, and one or two wagons were run into, but the damage is slight as the team kept nearly in the middle of the road. In front of Wagner's hardware store Mr. Beller ran out to stop the team and succeeded in getting a good hold of the line at the bit. A few feet further on stood a lumber wagon with some lumber extending out of the end of the box. Into this the team pulled Mr. Beller and he was then thrown to the ground, under the horses and wagon. He was assisted into Hoelz's saloon and later walked to his home. Dr. Prouty was called and soon found there were no bones broken. But he had an ugly cut over the left eye which required seven stitches, another cut on the right side of his face. The worst bruise was found on his left shoulder and arm, on which he landed when thrown under the horses. His back was bruised where he was thrown against the lumber, and he was a pretty sore man generally. He is getting along nicely now. Few people who witnessed the accident expected to see him get up alive.
The team was stopped at the next corner without doing further injury. Mr. Beller would undoubtedly have stopped them had the road been clear.
September 1901 -- A team of horses belonging to F. G. Klein became frightened while tied in front of Wm. Colburn's saloon last Saturday, broke the strap and ran away. They came east on Jefferson street and at the corner of Johnson street ran into a tree. One of them had a leg broken and was so badly injured that it died. The other was unhurt, but the wagon and its load of empty bottles was badly wrecked. The horse was valued at $200.
August 1902 -- Spring Prairie column: Fred Hemstreet's team ran away Saturday morning. It started at the milk factory and stopped in the M. E. church yard. Little Jesse Merry, who was in the wagon, was thrown out when they first started and escaped with only a few scratches. The Hensel girls, who were at the factory, were tipped over and scratched up some and their pail of eggs broken. Milk cans were scattered all along the road, a hitching post in front of Mr. Bowker's torn up and the lamp post in front of the M. E. church broken off. The wagon was the worse for wear and every one more excited and woke up more than they had been for an age before.
August 1903 -- John Pieters met with quite a serious accident last Saturday afternoon while coming from the country and when near W. K. Bushnell's farm southeast of the city. The team that he was driving met an automobile going the other way belonging to C. W. Voak, of Lake Geneva. In the wagon with Mr. Pieters were his son and Mr. Grootemaat, his partner. Mr. Pieters drove partially to one side of the road, where there was a slight drop off, to allow the automobile to pass. In doing so he was thrown out and one of the wagon wheels passed over his right foot, causing a compound dislocation and fracture of the ankle. He was immediately removed to his home in this city and Dr. Fulton was summoned. With the assistance of Dr. Prouty the wound, which was a very painful one, was dressed and the sufferer made as comfortable as possible. Should any serious trouble set in it may be necessary to amputate the foot. At present he is doing as well as could be expected. Mr. Pieters seems to be having more than his share of trouble, having broke his left foot several years ago.
The horse was also badly injured by one of the shafts of the wagon penetrating the flesh for some distance. It broke loose from the wagon, which was loaded with ladders, paint pails, ets., and was caught near Chas. Kleinkopf's saloon. Mr. Voak stopped his automobile as soon as possible and nearly fainted away, the unfortunate accident affecting him so. No particular blame is attached to him. It only emphasizes the necessity for automobile owners to exercise care and caution in approaching teams on the public highway.
July 1904 -- Last Friday afternoon a serious runaway occurred on the east side of Fox river. A team of bay horses attached to a wagonette belonging to D. F. Bremner of Chicago, who has a summer home at Brown's lake, were left standing by the driver for a short time near Charles Kleinkopf's place. They became frightened and started to run. When near the Edgewood farm they collided with the guy pole of a telephone line with such force as to break one's neck, causing instant death, and the other sustained such internal injuries that death soon ensued. The wagonette was turned over, but sustained only a slight damage. Such was the force of the collision that the guy post, which was as large around as an ordinary telephone pole, was broke in two. The team was quite a valuable one and had been used here by Mr. Bremner for a number of summers. past.
Charlie, a little three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Matt. Richardson of Milwaukee, who was staying at Mr. Kleinkopf's, had a miraculous escape from injury. He got into the wagonette while it was standing near the latter's place and when it tipped over after the runaway escaped without receiving any injury after his perilous ride.
November 1904 -- Congressman Henry A. Cooper of Racine was injured in a runaway accident just west of Kenosha shortly after 6 o'clock Saturday evening. The congressman had spoken at the village of Salem and was coming to Kenosha in company with M. P. Bacon of the United States pension bureau and Hugh Ried of the United States printing office. Just out of the city the team became frightened at a bicycle lamp and jumped into a ditch. The entire party was pinioned under the broken vehicle. Congressman Cooper's right leg was wrenched and bruised and he limped upon the stage when he spoke in Kenosha Saturday evening. He will have to submit to doctor's treatment for a while. The other members of the party were not seriously injured.
November 1904 -- A horse driven by a young man by the name of Jacobson from Waterford ran away when near the White river bridge last Saturday evening about seven o'clock. The animal, freed from the buggy, ran up Chestnut street and at Pine street, where a band was playing, ran into a crowd of people, knocking several of them down but injuring no one seriously. Henry Edwards, Clarence Martin and Ernest Hofer, the latter from Rochester, sustained severe cuts and bruises and were unconscious when picked up and taken to the drug store.
March 1909 -- Horse Beats Train to Lyons: A peculiar thing happened at the C., M. & St. P. depot in this city Monday afternoon. The team on the Waterford stage, owned by Henry Hegeman, which was tied near the depot, became frightened at something and broke loose. After badly wrecking the stage, one of the horses got out of the railroad yards and started west up the middle of the main track toward the approaching 1:41 east bound passenger train, which was just coming around the bend west of the depot. It looked to the watching crowd on the depot platform as if the animal would surely be killed, but it jumped off the track just in time to escape being hit by the engine. After the train had passed, the horse again got between the rails and ran ahead of the west bound train, over bridges and all, all the way to Lyons, where it was caught. It was returned to this city the same afternoon and was uninjured except for a slight scratch on the front leg. That the animal got out of the way of the approaching train just in time and then ran over bridges, etc., ahead of a passenger train for four and one-half miles, and was caught uninjured, is certainly miraculous.
July 1909 -- Burlington had more than its share of runaways last and this week. Last Thursday night, a horse belonging to William Gill tore loose at New Munster and ran all the way home until it fell on Wilmot avenue. The buggy was scattered along the road. Sunday night a colt belonging to Art Jacobson became frightened going over the street car tracks at Schemmer's corner and, before being quieted down, had wrecked the buggy. A horse belonging to R. H. Fitch tore loose at the Milwaukee depot Sunday night and, before being stopped, also wrecked a buggy.
June 1910 -- One of the Brehm Bros. Co.'s large dray teams took a run down Pine street Tuesday morning, and but for a fall, considerable damage might have been done. One of the horses slipped on the wet pavement, and slid about thirty feet, but the fall stopped them from running into the new construction work.
April 1917 -- Harold Longmore had an exciting experience last Wednesday morning. He came to town on an errand, driving a single horse hitched to a light wagon. While doing an errand the horse started up and ran down the street to the Soo line crossing. The horse went under the gates, which were lowered, and took to the track in front of the 7:13 passenger south bound. The engineer managed to slow down the train enough so that when the engine struck the wagon it was with just enough force to throw the wagon and horse from the track. The horse tore loose from the wagon and ran down the track to Washington street, where it was caught. The wagon was somewhat damaged, while the horse escaped with a few scratches.