The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-23
A Marvellous Escape.

[From the Dcnever (Col) Tribune. May 81
AS much interest as there may be attached
to the war between the confronting railroads
in the Grand Canon of the Arkansas, no oc-
currence has TRANSFERRED in that locality
which has attracted so much attention and
sympathy as an accident which recently
happened to Mrs. E. j. Mallett, of Canon
City. Mrs. Mallett is an excellent horse
woman, and having great confidence in her
riding skill, started out last Sunday after
noon with her husband and other friends on
horseback to visit the scene OF operations in
the canon.
OF all the wonderful canons in Colorado
the Grand Canon of Arkansas is the most
awe-inspiring. The walls are 1000 feet
high at places, and almost perpendicular.
Before operations were begun within them
by the railroad men no one ever attempted
to pass through the gorge except during the
winter, and then on ice. The laborers have,
however, made paths in the very sides of the
immense precpice, and it was along one OF
these that Mrs. Mallett and her friends were
travelling. She rode a trusty horse, and
was as composed as any of her party. They
had proceeded to point beyond the horse
trail and were descending steep hill. The
path was narrow one, the walls Of the
canon shooting far up toward the blue, clear
sky, and down for Hundreds Of feet until
they dipped into the disturbed waters of the
rapid rolling Arkansas. 1t was at this dan
gerous spot chat Mrs. Mallett's horse STUN
bled and fell. There was no room for the
least falter. This was, therefore, fatal
step. Mrs. Mallett, with almost incredible
presence Of mind, disentangled herself from
her horse Below her tel, feet was a shelv-
ing rock about fifteen inches wide. This
OH he
With nerve that wonld have made the STERN
er sex proud o: manhood the lady held on
the end of the rock, dangling in the air,
gripping it with desperation. Had she let
20 her next Judgment would have been on
another shelf fifty feet below. TO hold on
was therefore her only resort. With all the
despatch possible Mr.. Mallett and others
came to her rescue, and succeeded in taking
her from the perilous situation almost unin-
jured, but, of course, very much exhausted
from fright.
Now comes the strargest part of the story.
Tie horse fell also and lodged on the same
shelf to which his mistress was clinglng. In
falling he turned completely round, but there
he stood OF. the narrow ledge OF stone, hug
ging the wall, and evidently realizing his
position, if horse ever realized anything.
He did not stir a muscle, hardly breathed
Tor all nOuf or more, until ropes SIronS
enough TO take him out were sent for and
obtained at Il camp a mile distant. BY the
time these arrived so men CT more who were
engaged in the canon had gathered along the
trail, and as mary as could make them
selves useful assisted in lifting the animal
up. He seemed to realize fully that steps
We're heins taken for his relief, and did not
move to make resistance until he was placed
! upon a sure footing in the path.
The escape c: Mrs. Mallett, under the
circumstances, is very little less than mirac-
ulOus, and that the horse should have been
saved is almost incredible. The accident
and the rescue have proved prolific the n e
Of conversation in Canon, and the first re-
port caused corresponding excitement. Mrs.
Mallett is the wife of Prot. Mallett, who is
the proprietor OF the reduction works al
| Canon.