Providential Escape of a Lady Passenger-1869

HEATH, KELLY, HANCOCK, LEVI

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 1/19/2018 at 10:07:28

Dubuque Daily Times, Tuesday, June 22, 1869, Dubuque, Iowa, Page: 4

A VIOLENT RUNAWAY

Providential Escape of a Lady Passenger

One of the most violent and exciting runaways of the season came off yesterday morning, a runaway that for the time being set the whole city agoing, and caused no end of running to and fro, mixed with many speculations and anxious inquiries. The driver of the Maquoketa stage, Mr. Heath, had just brought his vehicle in front of Mr. John T. Hancock’s establishment to take on a few articles, and had dismounted for that purpose, leaving his team in charge of a young man, when the horses became frightened by one of our lumbering ice wagons, and giving a vicious snout started to run. The young man clung to the reins until the horses dragged him over a pile of bricks in front of the Levi’s new block, corner of Main and 4th, when he was obliged to break his hold, and away they went down Main Street at full tilt. At the time of the accident the stage had but one occupant, a lady passenger, Miss Kelly by name, who had started for Maquoketa. The brave young lady never uttered a cry, but firmly grasping one of the seats, calmly awaited her fate. Nearly opposite the Julien House, the runaway encountered street car No. 2 coming up, and swerved lightly to one side, but not enough to clear the stage, and a terrible collision was the result. The latter was completely demolished, both wheels were smashed in flinders, the top carried away and the springs broken. The car also sustained some damage, the rear platform being knocked off and one of the windows broken in. The horses soon cleared themselves from the wreck, and kept on their way but were finally captured on Bluff Street and brought back sound with the exception of a few bruises. The lady, though somewhat stained, was conveyed into the Julien House and found to be unhurt. Mr. Heath soon proceeded in procuring another carriage, and pursued his journey, leaving behind the ruins of the old stage as a memento of the most violent runaway on record. Contracts are now open for a new stage between this and Maquoketa.