Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-01-28
LARK EDGE.
A Kentucky stage Driver whom
Bret Harte ought TO Know.

~ AemLuCky HtuGe DfiNeF AuO1
Bret Harte Ought TO Know,
From the Stamford (Ky.) Interior JOurnal.l
There is much Of romantic adventure
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, expo
sures to summer sun and wintery blasts,
are crowded into the life OF the hardy
Jehu, who, four.in.hand, conducts the
numbering coach through narrow gorges,
over the high passes and steep defiles OF
Southeastern kentucky. To travellers
over the route from Stanford TO Somerset
the name OF Lark Edge 10 familiar.
Lark is character that Bret Harte
would be proud to immortaiize. 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 as the Somerset coach
was descending the pass known as Halls
Gap, in charge Of the noted driver, Lark,
who was, perhaps, rehectng upon the
pleasures Of his life, and anticipating
the Pendleton House bill OF fare, and a
good fnger.length Of Pendleton 5 4-x-20
year old, one Of the lead horses got his
vertebral appendix over the lines, and
became vicious ard unruly. Lark thought
of his three passengers-one a lady
and took prompt measures TO stop that
nonsense. In the effort to check the
team, the lines broke and left the driver
without compass or rndder, apparently, a
lost marineg. The leaders headed for
the bluff, aud after them numbered the
coach with its precious freight. Those
who have travelled the road know the
danger of plunge over the bluff at this
point The gentlemen passengers jumped
out, and one of them seized wheel and
succeeded in checking the coach mo-
ment, while the other assisted the lady
to alight. In another second the fright
ened team were on the verge OF the preci-
piee, and before them perpendicular
plunge of thirty feet. The passengers
called to the driver 10 jump and save
himself. This he refused to do, saying
Goodbye, friends, | guess I'll go down
with EN-, and wee how they looks down
tharl' And down he went,
The passengers went TO the scene oi
the wreck as seon as the descent could
be effected expecting 10 find the man
gled remains Of poor Lark, iniermin
gled with horse ears, legs and tails; bu
| Lark WASH that kind Of fellow. He
had hastily selected the soltest place or
a Gig fat rock, and there he sat crying
| as if with a broken heart He actually
| shed tears of commiseration for hi
pooy horses, proving that his heart WA
far softer than other parts of his organ
| ization
Upon investigation, il was found tha
the horses, though considerably bruised
we're not mortally injured. The coacl
had suffered injuries, but with the aid 0
the passengers, was placed upon il
wheels. and repaired sufficiently Il
fnish the trip, and the whole party tool
up its sad march toward town.
Among the articles Of freight, We're
thousand dozen eggs, which Lark fear
are somewhat injured from their rapi
transit through the air.
The passengers were by when lIarl
related this adventure and were unan
imous in testifyting to his fidelity
and exhonerating him from all blam
for the accident In relating the in
cident Lark made the characteristic re
mark that, accidentally, the truths Of
NV side this time, for fact-and / d d,
| It agin. You folks don't known me
Tlu the flower Of the yearth, am. "