The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-02-11
A Kentucky Stage Driver.

Iron the stanford (Ky. )Interior Journal
There is much of romantic adventure
still connected with the stage-cOach
travel in regions as yet untrod by the
"irOn horse" and many narrow escapes
from death, many tolls and hardships,
exposures to summers sun and wintery
blast, 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 de-
files of Southeastern Kentucky. To
travellers over the route from Stanford
to Somerset the name of Lark Edge is
familiar. Lark is a character that Bret
Harte would be proud to immortalize.
His last adventure showed him possessed
of hereto courage that many who have
gained glory at the lannon's mouth can
not boast.
A few days since, as the Somerset
coach was descending the pass, known az
Halls Gap, in charge of the noted driver
Lark, who was, perhaps, rejecting on the
pleasures of his life, and anticipating the
Pendleton House bill of fare, and good
finger-length of Pcndleton's 4-x-2O yeal
old, one Of the lead horses got his verte
bral appendix over the lines, and became
vicious and unruly. Lark thought of hi
three passengers-one lady-and tool
prompt measures to stop that nonsense
In the effort to check the team, the line
broke and left the driver without com
pass or rudder, apparently, lost mar
liner. The leaders headed for the bluff
and after them numbered the coach will
its precious freight. Those who have seel
| Al Ix,,ou, tbo IonUor nf v,InnO
over the bluff at this point. The gentle
men passengers jumped out, and one o
them seized wheel and succeeded il
checking the coach moment, while tn
other assisted the lady to alight. Ii
another second, the frightened team
were on the verge of the precipice, an
before them perpendicular plunge G
thirty feet. The passengers called to tn
driver to jump and save himself. Thi
he refused to do, saying: GOOD byt
friends; guess I'll go with 'em and Sc
how they looks down thar" And dow
he went.
The passengers went to the wreck 8
soon as the descent could be effected, e,
pecting to find the mangled remains {
poor Lark, intermingled with horse ear
legs and tails; but Lark wasn't this
kind of fellow. He had hastily selecte
the softest place on big fat rock, an
, there he sat, crying, as, If with broke
, heart. He actually shed tears of con
miseration for his poor horses, prOvin
that his heart was far softer than Oth'
parts of his organization.
, Upon investigation, is was found th'
the horses, though considerably bruises
, were not MORALLY injured. The coac
, had suffered injuries, but with the aid
, the passengers, was placed upon i
, wheels, and repaired sufficiently to fms
/ the trip, and the whole party took up i
sad march toward town.
/ Among the articles of freight, were
| thousand dozen eggs, which Lark fea
> are somewhat injured from their rap
, transit through the air.
t The passengers were by when Lake n
lated this adventure and were unar
nous in testifying to his fidelity, and e.
onerating him from all blame for ii
accident. In relating the incident La
made the characteristic remark tina
r accidentally, the truths on my sit
Q this time, for fact-and I'd do it agi
, You folks don't know me, Pm the few
\ of the yearth, am"