Runaway Horse is Page 1 Story. (original) (raw)

At 5pm that Friday afternoon Udo stopped his wagon at Klaerner's Corner (today the Chase Bank Building at the corner of Main and Llano). After making his delivery Udo stepped into the stirrup, but the girth had worked loose. The saddle slipped, throwing Udo to the ground. Udo was not hurt, but the horse spooked and took off in a wild panic, headed west on Main, the wagon behind it bouncing off buildings on both sides of the street.

Halfway down the block the runaway horse and wagon crashed into the plate glass window at the Citizens Garage, owned by the Joseph Brothers, at 132 West Main Street (today eWay Furniture) showering the men inside with glass. Had it not been for the iron railing out front the damage would have been a lot worse.

Crossing the street the vehicle smashed into a delivery cart parked in front of Juenke and Schoenewolf's General Merchandise Store (now a part of the Dooley's building). Then for good measure the horse struck the iron post in front of the store a glancing blow, making the entire building shake.

The town, lulled by the tedious routine of another ordinary afternoon, suddenly came alive. People spilled out onto Main Street to see what all the excitement was about. Editor Dietel seized the moment, grabbed his pen and began to write.

Down the street Mrs. Eddie Herbort and her 2 children had been grocery shopping that morning and had just alighted from a buggy in front of Stucke's Bakery. Mother and children were about to enter the bakery when Udo Henke's runaway horse and wagon flew by at close range, scaring the daylights out of Mrs. Herbort's horse and sending her vehicle on a wild ride of its own.

Meanwhile Udo Henke's horse reached the courthouse with no signs of slowing down. Then in front of the post office the horse caught its foot in one of the stirrups. He stumbled and fell. As he got back on his feet a gentleman walking down the sidewalk ran out on the street, grabbed the reins and steadied the animal.

A farmer finally stopped Mrs. Herbort's horse and buggy 3 miles out the mail road. The top of buggy was torn away but a container of flour and the rest of her groceries were intact.

In a couple of minutes it was all over. The street was quiet again.

When the dust settled there was some property damage, but no great harm was done. At the very least Udo Henke's runaway horse brought a little excitement to a lazy Friday afternoon, and the next day's newspaper had a page one story.