Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1901 — A Complication of Runaways. [ARTICLE]

A Complication of Runaways.

Bark’s bridge that enormously long structure, some 1,600 feet in length, over the Iroquois river, some 44 miles north of town, was the scene of an exciting and dangerous occurrence, about 7 o’olook Monday night. Sheriff Abe Hardy, J. F. Irwin and Wm. Zea, the latter of Remington, were returning from a trip to Wheatfield, driving a livery team. While crossing the bridge, the fastening of one end of the neokyoke broke, 'letting the buggy tongue fall down. This scared the horses and they started to run, full speed. Just at this moment Mrs. Logan Wood, of Parr, drove upon the bridge from the south end, being on her way home from Rensselaer. Mr. Hardy, who was driving the runaways, saw the danger of a collision, and though he could not check his team, he drew them to the west side of the bridge, to pass Mrs. Wood’s team. But while the two teams were still some distance apart, the dragging tongue of Mr. Hardy’s team caught under some planks, brought their rig to a sudden stop, threw the occupants all out, violently, and upset and pretty nearly totally wrecked their buggy. In tbe meantime Mrs. Wood, seeing her danger, and with excellet presence of mind, drew her j team close up to the east railing of the bridge, and stepped out on , the railing and jumped off the bridge. It was some 6 or 8 feet down where she jumped, but she landed in a dump of willows and escaped unhurt. The three occupants of the other rig were all pretty well shaken up, but all escaped serious injury. Mr. Irwin got a large abraision on his knee, and incidentally a new pair of pants ruined; Mr. Zea has a pretty badly sprained wrist; Sheriff Hardy a number of small bruises. He was thrown headlong, a long distance, when the tongue caught, and his escape from injury was remarkable. Their team, being freed from the buggy, ran on past Mrs. Wood’s team, which took fright also, and whirled around on the narrow bridge, and followed the other team. The sheriff’o team ran only a half mile and stopped. Mrs. Wood’s team ran about 2| miles to J. W. Cowden’s plaoe, where they turned in and were caught by Billy Ferguson. They broke the buggy tongue as they turned through the gate, and one horse horse had a badly out foot. The sheriff and his party accompanied Mrs. Wood to Mr. Saidla’s place, not far south of the bridge, and he hitohed up his buggy and took her home. As for the sheriff and the rest, they thought walking would do for them, and they pulled into Rensselaer, all steam on, about 9:30 p. m.