The Nevada journal., 1852-12-10
Carrying Election News.
THE WAY MR.. RYAN DID DITl

ADAMS & Co., arrived in Nevada with the i'm
bortant and exciting news of the Presidential
election, in m,ne hours from Sacramento. The
anxiety of the public mind to receive the news.
and the weight of the intelligence itself, gave
especial interest to the circumstance. But the
heroic nature of the achievement under such
difficulties, deserves particular record, and
querable energies, indomitable bravery, and
the fullest resources. Persons acquainted with
the character of the Nevada road, and the hor-
rors of the awful storm prevailing. the dense
darkness during part ofthe journey, the bridge
less and dangerous streams and the length of
the passage, unite in pronouncing the exploit
of Mr.. Ryan as continual miracle of hardi-
hood and perseverance that not one man in ten
thousand could have effected. The whole pas.
sage was made up of hair breadth escapes, that
make the blood tingle to hear them, and dis
plays promptness, fertility Of resources and
sometimes stratagem that would tell in secur-
ing victory against odds in well-fought
field.
great incentive to exertion was the fact
that the rival express had made arrangements
to beat" in conveying the news to the inter-
ior. That being understood, MIR. Ryan made
up his mind not to be beat; and he carried out
his intention. Before the arrival of the boat
he saddled his horse, leaving it at the stable,
and repaired to the levee. When tho boat ar
rived the rival exp-essman for Nevada was on
his horse at the levse, ready to catch his bu,-
die and start. Ryan seized his documents, and
ran to the stable for his horse, putting without
particular design one extra into his vest pock-
ct. He mounted his horse at 4o'clock, A. M,
and made for the bridge on the American riv-
er He had previously arranged with the toll
keeper to hang the key of the gate on nail he
had driven himself the day before where in the
darkness he could Immediately put his hand on
1t. Arriving at the bridge. through euncer-
tain and rough bye-paths among the brush be-
tween the American anc Sacramento, he sciz-
ed the key, opened the gate and got his horse
through, and then locked it, leaving the key in
the lock. AS he was mounting his horse to
ride on, the other expires sman came laundering
up and tried the gate, to find it locked. In
the darkness he coul not see Ryan, and rush
ed back to the toll house 10 rouse its inmate.
While hallooing to wake the sleeper he heard
the pleasant music of the heels Of Ryan's horse
as they merriIy echoed on the bridge at fast
run. Beyond the bridge the whole surface was
title better than mere bog, save one little
track of a few feet wide. On this, however,
Ryan fer two or three days previously had been
practising his horse, and the sagacious animal
struck it at once in the obscurity and kept
from the unknown depths of mirs on both sides
The last Ryan heard of his rival, he was foun-
dsring in the mud after passing the bridge.
His first horse he rode to the kentucky
house, distance of 29 miles, in little more
than two hours. The morning had now broke,
and the gloom Of the passage was little light
ened. But the rain still poured in torrents,
and the whole road was quagmire. In rass-
ing the houses on the road he had taken pains
to ride in circuit around them, SO that they
aiight not know he had passed. At one Of the
houses he could scarcely refrain from laughter
to see a man searching with lantern in the
road for fresh hoof marks.
| AT the Kentucky House he took fresh
horse, and started for McCourtney's. Here he
found the bridge swept away, and Bear River
rag ing with the utmost ferceness He saw the
impossiblity of getting his horse across, and
so turned him loose and set about finding an
expediert to get himself across. The force Of
the stream was terrific, but it must be pass
ed" thought Ryan. He ran ups nd down the
river, and in despair was about to take of his
clothes and attempt to swim it, when tho idea
struck him to constructs raft. Two men COM
ing up, with their assistance he fastened two
planks together, and hewing another with an
axe for paddle, he ferried himsolf over and one
of the men Here a new difficulty assailed
him-he had no horse! But with the help Of
a man he caught one of McCourtney's that
was loose in the ranch, mounted and was of
again, after delay Of an hour and half
This horse he rode to the Round Tent, l5 miles
from the kentucky House, at the top of his
speed, fording and swimming minor streams,
that had swelled to obstacles in their great ac-
cessions of water. At the Round Tent he took
| a splendid morse Of Adams q 20 named i HE
COL that was in readiness fol. him, and push
ed for Dry Greek, about l-2 miles farther on,
the hostler accompanying him. Here was the
great feat Of the passage. This stream with
such a harmless name, on occasions Of such
heavy storms, is filled with roaring, impet-
uous tide, that no man has ever before dared to
encounter When just fordable the current is
sometimes SO rapid that it takes horse OIL his
| feet and sends him down stream to the peril Of
his rider. But this stream on Saturday was
full fve feet above the fording point, and the
rush and heaving of it's waters was so terrible
that the attendant of Mr.. Ryan implered him
not to rush on to his distruction by attempting
to swim it, but to wait for the waters to sub
side. Disregarding his entreaiies, Mr.. Ryan
turned his horse absve the ford. and the noble
animal sprang from the bank into the yeas!
OF waves. Striking out vigorously he reached
a little island nearly midway. and breathing
I