Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-09-23


tinctness characteristic of man under the
influence of liquor.
What if Reynolds, with madman's Gun.
ming, had piled him with liquor, the better to
accomplish some wild purpose?
Suddenly we heard sounds of q struggle,
cries and oaths, thud on the coach top as Of
heavy fall; then gasping and choking, as
though some one were trying to get breath.
Now thoroughly alarmed, and feeling Ger.
tain that something wrong had taken place, l
leaned as far as possible out Of the window,
and saw something which is as clear in my
memory to-day as though it had happened
but yesterday.
Standing on the foot-board was the driver
and Reynolds engaged in terrible struggle.
They swayed backward and forward with
the motions of the coach, at times almost fall
ing forward under the horses, or to the side
under the wheels The drivers face was red,
and swollen almost to bursting his arms were
around the body ofh his adversary as though in
death.grip The herculean form of Rey-
nolds was almost erect; his hat off; his long
hair streaming; his eyes flashing like those of
beast of prey about to spring on its victim.
Both of his hands clasped the drivers throat,
who at length, unable to withstand the vice
like grip, loosed his hold and fell heavily, al
most under the wheels
| Our wild ride now commenced.
Reynolds seized the reins and whip and
lashed the horses into madness not much less
than his own. At intervals be uttered cry,
something of a yell and laugh, that chilled
one to the heart. Onward we sped with the
rapidity of the wind. ..r.-
turned to my companions. They had
evidently taken in the situation. The farmer,
though very much alarmed, was selfpossessed
and courageous. The young lady was terri
fed to such an extent that her face was
blanched and her features fairly distorted.
The situation was awful. How to escape
was the question. My first thought was that
We could leap from the coach, but one look at
the Jagged rocks on one side and the deep ra.
vine on the other convinced me that such
course would be our certain destruction. To
remain seemed equally hopeless We we're
threatened with instant annihilation.
Our mad driver piled the lash and yelled at
his maddened steeds. The noise was fearful.
The coach rocked from side to side, and sew
eral times nearly turned over. Our fate SEEM
ed to waver between death by being dashed to
pieces against the rocks on the one side and
precipitation into the ravine on the other.
The wheels often shaved the edge of the pre-
cipice, sending the rocks tumblng below. My
acquaintance with all the features of the road,
having travelled it once or twice before, ena.
bled me to decide on some plan of escape.
About mile ahead there was fork in the
road. The left hand was the route formerly
travelled, but being through bad part of the
country, and always considered dangerous, it
had long been abandoned, was out of repair,
its bridges down, &c. The right hand, or new
road, was wide, level and in good condition.
I decided that if the left was taken it would
be better to risk death by leaping from the
coach, than to remain and face inevitable
destruction. But if the right was taken, our
chances would be altogether better, it being
evident that the horses could not much longer
keep up their break-neck gait, and that they
would probably run themselves down to such
an extent as to make our exit from the We
hicle comparatively safe.
As soon as declared my plan, it was &C.
cepted as the only feasible one. We must bide
our time The suspense became intense How
concentrating is danger. In the presence Of
imminent peril how small seems the expanse
of the universe! The whole world, the whole
of life seems to be compressed into the small
space Immediately around US, and everything
depends on our own salvation. All is forgot
ten save our immediate safety. So strong is
the instinct Of selfpreservation.
The decisive moment approached. On.
| II oksn I mill hot fo1
Objects flew past without shape; the heavens
turned in circle. Would the devil who was
driving give US but one chance for our livess
felt relieved when the time for action ar
rived. I pushed open the coach door, grasped
the door post, leaned forward, and glanced up
the road. Ahead was steep descent, at the
foot of which was the place where the roads
parted. And yet no slack in { 2ed; the wild,
infuriated animals dashed on the merciless
driver, now demon with bloodshot eyes and
foamng mouth, still urged them on, and ut
tered the rawlings of his madness.
Now we are almost there One hundred
yards ahead!
Fifty yards ahead
looked at Miss Castle. She seemed life
less. I told her to approach the door where
stood. She did so without word.
Now We are there. Will the fend on the
box pull to the right or to the left?
He seems undecided. He flashes his glance
first on one side and then on the other.
He pulls to the right, and we are saved.
No he has changed his purpose; he pulls to
the left.
His indecision saved our lives The lead
ers, first reined to the right, turned that way,
then Immediately afterward reined to the left,
endeavored to obey, but the change was too
sudden. They halted for second. One of
them was confused he reared, plunged for
ward, and almost fell, but recovered himself
Then was our time, if ever. called to Miss
Castle; she did not appear to hear me, and
did not move. There was no time for cere.
mony. I took her in one arm, and grasping
the door and leaning forward as far as posi-
BILE, I gave once glance around me, and then
leaped blindly out.
I struck hard a heavy darkness envoloped
me. became insensible.
A few hours afterward, when I recovered
consciousness, was in farmhouse near by,
receiving the very best attention that could
be bestowed. Miss Castle and the farmer
we're active in administering to my wants.
The former was profuse in her expressions OF
gratitude to me for having, as she claimed,
saved her life. Such words, I assure you,
were balm to my wounds.
was happy to see that she and the farmer
had escaped with little injury. I was severe.
ly but not dangerously bruised, and, so we'll
was attended, was able to resume my jour-
ney in few days.
As to Reynolds, the last seen of him and
bis coursers alive, was as they reached the