The Van Buren press., 1875-02-16
A Kentucky Stage Driver whom Bret
Hsrte Ought to Know.

The Stamford Ny Interior Journal
says: There is much Of romantic ad.
venture still connected with stage coach
travel in regions as yet untrod by the
" iron horse" and many narrow escapes
from death, many tolls and hardships,
exposure to summer sun and wintery
blast, are crowded into the life Of the
hardy Jehu. who, four-in hand. conducts
the numbering coach through narrow gor
yes, over the high passes and steep de-
files of southeastern Kentucky. To trav
elers over the route from Stanford to
Somerset the name Of Lark Edge is IA
milar Lark is a character that Bret
Harte would be glad to immortalize. His
last adventure showed him possessed OF
heroic courage that many who have
gained glory at the cannon's mouth, can
not boast.
A few days since, rs the Somerset
coach was descending the pass known as
Halls Gap, in charge Of the noted driver,
Lark, who. perhaps, rejecting upon the
pleasures Of his life, and anticipating the
Pendleton House hll Of fare, and n good
finger length Of Pendleton's 4x20 wear
old, one of the lead horses got his verte-
bral appendix over the lines, and became
vicious and unruly. Lark thought Of his
three prssengers-ene lady-and took
p cS4 " e s.tqp tp chat
brske, and left the driver without com.
pass or rsdder-apparently a lost mari
ner. The leaders headed for the bluff
and after them numbered the coach with
its precious freight those who have
travelled the road, know the danger Of
plunge over the bluh at tthis point. The
gentlemen passengers jumped out. and
one Of them seized u wheel and succeed
ed in checking the coach moment while
the other assisted the lady to alight. in
another second the frightened team were
on the verge Of the precipice, and before
them perpendicular plunge CT thirty
feet The passengers called to the dri-
yer to jump and save himself. This he
refused to do, saying, Good bye, my
friends; guess I'll 20 with EN-. and see
how they looks down thar Aud down
he went
The passengers went TO the scene OF
the wreck as soon as the descent could
be effected. expecting to end the man
glcd remains Of poor Lark, intermingled
with horses ears, legs and tails; but
Lark wasn't that kind Of fellow He
had hastily selected the softest place on
q big, fat rock, and there he sat, crying,
as If with broken heart. Hc actually
shed tears OF commiscration for his poor
horses, proving that his heart Was far
softer than other parts Of his organiza
ton
Upon investigation. it was found that
the horses though considerably bruised.
were not mortally injured The coach
had suffered injuries. but with the aid OF
the passengers, was placed on it's wheels
and repaired sufficiently to finish the trip
and the whole party took up its sad march
toward town.
Among the articles Of freight were q
thousand dozen eggs, which Lark fears
are somewhat injured from their rapid
transit through the air.
The passengers were by when Lark re
lated this adventure, and were unanimous
in testifying to his fidelity and exonera.
ting him from all blame for the accident
In relating the incident, Lark made the
characteristic remark that 4" accidentally
the truth on my side this time, for .
fact, and III do it agin. You folks don't
know me-Im the flower Of the yearth,
I am -