The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-29
A Tale Of a Canyon.
MRS. MA7.IETT FALLS FROM A HORSE DOWN THE
WALLS OF THE GRAND CANYON, COLORADO,
AND IS UNINJURED.

MRS. MAi.IETT FALLS FROM A HORSE DOWN THE
WALLS OF THE GRAND CANYON, COL oRADo,
AND IS UNINJURED.
: Denver Tribune.J
AS much interest as there may be at
tached to the war between the eDdiug
in the Grand Canon Of the Arkan-
gas, no occurrence has happened in that To-
eality which has attracted so much atten-
ton and sympathy as an accident which
happened to Mrs. L. j. Mallett, Of Canon
City. Mrs. Mallctt is an excellent horse
woman, and having great confidence in her
started out last Sunday
afternoon with her husband and other
friends on horseback to visit the scene OF
operations in the canon. OF all the Won
derful canonS in Colorado, the Grand
Canon of the Arkansas is the most awe
inspiring. The walls are two thousand
feet high at places, and almost perpendicu-
lar. Before operations were begun within
them by the railroad-men no one ever at
tempted to pass through the gorge except
during the winter, and then en- ice. The
laborers have, however, made paths in the
very sides Of the immense precipices, and
it was along one Of these that Mrs. Mallett
and her friends were travelling. She rode
trusty horae, and was as composed as any Of
ueT parry. luey nau ~ PiooScoeu " 4" poiho
beyond the horse-trail and were descending
a steep hill. The path was narrow one,
the walls of the canon shooting far up to-
ward the blue, clear sky, and for hundreds
OF feet, until they dipped into the disturb
ed waters of the rapid-roling Arkansas.
1t was ut this dangerous spot that Mrs.
Mallett's horse stumbled and fell. There
was no room for the least falter. This was.
therefore, fatal step. Mrs. Mallett, with
almost incredible presence of mind, disen-
tangled herself from her horse. Below her
in ten feet was shelving rock, about tif-
teen inches wide. This she struck and
caught with her hands. With nerve that
would have made the sterner sex proud OF
manhood, the lady held on to the end OF the
rock, dangling in the air, gripping 1t with
desperation. Had she let 60, her next
lodgement would have been on another shelf
fifty feet below. TO hold on was therefore
her only resort. With all the dispatch pos
sible Mr.. Malett and others came to her
rescue, and succeeded in taking her from
the more than perilous situation almost un-
injured, but OF course very much exhaust
ed from fright.
Now comes the strangest part Of the story.
The horse fell also, and lodged on the same
shelf to which his mistress was chnging.
In ia1ling he had turned completely around,
but there he stood on the narrow ledge OF
stone, hugging the wall, and evidently real
iZing his position, il horse ever realized any
thing. He did not stir q muscle, hardly
breathed for an hour or more, until ropes
strong enough to take him out were sent for
and obtained at camp mile distant. III
the time these. arrived, fifty men or more,
who were engaged in the canon, had gathaa aa
cred along the trail, and as many OF them ID
could make themselves useful assisted in
lifting the animal up. He seemed to realize
fully that steps were being taken for his
relief, and did not move to make any resist
ance until he was placed upon sure footing
in the path.
The whole scene would have made one
for an artist. The escape Of Mrs. Mallett,
under the circumstances, is very little less
than miraculous. and that the horse should
have been saved is almost incredible. The
accident and rescue have proven prolific
themes Of conversation in Canon, and the
first report caused corresponding excite
ment. Mrs. Mallett is the wife OF Professor
MalIett, who is the proprietor OF the reduc-
ton works at Canon.