Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1875-08-26
True aobllty-R.rol.m or a Stage
Driver.

[cou~c-psniencs Sacramento Record. Union :. !
SACRAMENTO. August %, 1875.
Eds. R,cosp USioS: I wish to say q
word IN vindication Of tho driver Of the
Taboo and Truckec stage coach. and TO
correct some OF the gross misrepresen-
tations which appeared In ashort report
OF the accident near Tahoe In this morn
ing's paper. II IL plain that the writer
OF that article was not Q passenger ON
that Inflated coach. ! was there. sat
beside the reckless fellow" who drove,
and saw just how he acted and knew
how much no contributed TO the &C.
cidsnt. Ho could mot have foresoen II.
There was . Jaw in the iron part Of tho
brake. On the grade going down 10 the
Truckss River. about fvo miles from
Tahoe, Il broke short OF. The horses
instantly started into a'ksen run. They
were seven Of us on top. and every one
OF Us knew that nothing oould prevent
our going over. Il was q moment OF
terrible suspense. Death seemed to
stare US In the face. What did the
driver dor Noble fellow; be chung TO
the reinS ! guiding the nov Infatuated
horses as best he could. The mad coach.
laundering down the steep grade. urged
tho horses 10 greater speed. At any
moment sitsr tho brake gave way the
driver could have saved himself BY
jumping od on Che uphill eide. ButI
would swear that such q thought mover
entered noble Jack Hanscom's head. I
was sitting bssids him when the brake
parted; hearing Il crack. I looked at him
and asksd In = low tone had u gone.
His look back. without q word. ] can
never forget. With lips hfn and press.
Cd, he grasped tho reins with stronger
hold, and vainly tried to save rs. Not
Q thought OF himself and his fate. when
no could have played the ave and
saved himself at any moment. When
We came al fall speed around the curve,
where the coach upset. no did not rein
his horses into the bank, but no tried
his best TO throw them far out. 80 m 10
get around without going ovor. knew
NO must go. and when she caresnsd. be-
fore the last moment, I jumped far out
down the hill and escaped unhurt. The
driver. till then clinging with the grip
OF death 20 his reins, wss thrown head.
long down the hill. and when I had
my feet 10 look around, the first
I Jaw near mo was noble Jack
Hanseom. lying upon his side. unable
10 move. writhing In pain. The hrst
words be uttered were OF his passengers
WAS any one hurti And Afterwards,
whom the wounded and the fright.
ened were gathered down by the
river bank. this injured, and now
injured driver. said he carod
not for himself. but for the safety Of his
passengers. yHor laid there In what wo
supposed were The 'agOnios Of death.
inquiries for the rest, and regret
md modification at the apparent
stain upon his name an q skilliul and
driver. o And here I will say that
| have been upon many mountain
,osohss and roads In California, and
nave never sesn o moro skilliul driver |
han this one. know not now whether
be dead or Alive-hs was left for dy. |
ng at . cabin BY the roadside but this
know, that his friends need never
aush for shame q his conduct during
bose psrilous momsnts. for he acted tho
art OF . true hero. His was trus
asroism, and I cannot let the oppor-
unity pass 10 speak for him now that
lies upon . painful bed, or u may b