Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-01-01

frrnm SirF Heads Work. ]

From Sir ?. Heads Work.
As soon as we crossed the pass. which is only
seventy yards long, the captain told me that it
was very bad place for baggage mules; that
! four hundred had been lost there. and iha, We
should also very probably lose one. He said
that he would get down 10 the water at place a
bout a hundred yards off. and whit there with his
iasso to catch what might fall into the torrent,
and he requested me 10 lead ON his mule. How
ever, | was resolved to see the tumble. II there
was to be one; so the captain took away his mule
and my own. and. while stood on projecting
rock at the end Of the pass, he scrambled down
on foot till at last he got to the level of the wa
ter.
The drove of mules now came in sight. one
| following another. A few were carrying no bur
drns. but the rest were either mounted or heavi-
/ " laden; aud as they wound along the crooked
path the difference of color in tho animals, the
different colors and shapes of the baggage which
they were carrying with the picturesque dress
of tho peons. who were yociferaing the wild song
! by which they drive on the mules, and the dam
geroLs path they had to cross. formed altogether
a very interesting scene
As soon as the leading mule came TO the com
meme snent of the pass. he stopped e, identity UNI
willing to proceed; and. Of course. all the rest
stopped also. He was the finest mule had.
and, on that account, bad twice as much to carry
ns any of the others. His lond had never been
/ relieved. ana IL consisted OF
! two Of which belonged to me. and which contain
ed not only a very heavy bag of dollars. but also
papers which were of such consequence that
! could hardly have continued my journey without
! them.
The peons now redoubled their cries and. lean
! ing over the sides Of their mules and picking up
stones, they threw them at the leading mule, who
now commenced his journey over the path. With
! his nose down To the ground, literally smelling
/ h., Cd oh
position of his feet if he found the ground would
not bear, until he came to the bad part of the
pass where he again stopped. Then | certainly
began to look with grea, anxiety atmy portman-
tenus; but the psons again threw stones at him.
and he continued his path, and reached me in
safety. Several others followed.
At last, young mule carrying porimanieau.
with two large sacks of provisions, ana many 9th
or things, in passing the bad point, strnck his
load against the rock, which knocked his two
hind legs the preci pice. and the loose stones
/ Immediately began to roll from under them
! However. his fore legs still upon the narrow
path He had room 10 put his head there but
he placed his nose on the path on his lett and
appeared to hold on by his mouth.
His perlous fate was soon decided by n loose
mule which came after him, and knocking his
comrades of the path, destroyed the bal
ance and, heels over head, the poor creature in
stnntly commenced n fall which really quite
terrific. With all his baggage firmly dashed to
him, he rolled down the steep slope. until he came
to the part which was perpendicular; aud then.
seeming to bound off, and turning around in the
mir fell into the deep torrent on his hack and bag
gage, and instantly disappeared.
| thought of course, that he was killed; but he
rose, appearing wild aud scared, and immediate
" endenvored To stem the torrent which was foam
ing about him. For moment he seemed to
e'd, but the eddy suddenly caught the great
lead on his lack, and turned him completely over.
Down went his head, with all his baggage, and
he carried down the stream. As suddenly,
however. he came up ngain ;but he was now weak.
and went down the stream, turned around and
around by the eddy, until, passing the corner Of
thcrock | lost sight of him.
! saw, however, the peons with their lasSoes in
their hands, run down the side of the torrent for
some little distance" but they soon stopped, and,
after looking towards the poor mule for some
conds, their earnest attitude gradually relaxed,
aud when they walked towards me, | concluded
that all was over | walked mp to the poems, and
WINS just going to speak to them, when at
distance a solitary mule walking towards U.s.
We instantly perceived that he was the same
whose fall we had just witnessed, and in few
moments lie Dame up to Us to jtin his comrades.
A Dread ful Il, phOOm-LOssofaT bOUsann Lives.
The North China Herald. of September TO-
which came to band by the last steamer. contains
H., t,ll nuvi, of La tyn