River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-06
A Marvellous Escape.

As much interest as there may be at
tached to the war between the contend
ing railroads in the Grand Canon of
the Arkar sas, no occurrence has trans
PRED in that locality which has attract
cd 50 much attention and sympathy at
an accident which recently happened
to Mrs. L. J. Mallett, Of Canon City.
Mrs. Mallett is an excellent horsewoman,
and, having great confidence in her rid
ing skill, started out last Sunday after
noon with her husband and other friends
on horseback 10 visit the scene of opera
ton IN the Canon. OF all the wonderful
canons in Colorado the Grand Canon of
the Arkansas is the most awe inspiring
The walls are 1000 feet high at places,
and almost perpendicular. Before oper
atoms 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 preci
pices, and it was along one of these that
Mrs. Mallett and her friends were travel
ing. She rode trusty horse, and was as
composed as any of her party. They had
proceeded to point beyond the horse
trait, and were descending a steep hill.
The path was a 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 dis
turbed waters of the rapid, rolling Ar
kansas. 1t was at this dangerous spot
that Mrs. Malietts horse stumbled and
lell There was no room for the least falt-
er. This was, therefore, fatal step.
Mrs. Mallett, with almost incredible
presence OF mind, disentaugled herself
from her horse. Below her, ten feet was a
shelving rock, about fifteen inches wide.
This she struck and caug.t 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, Chipping it with des-
peration Had she let go, her next lodg-
ment would have been on another shelf
fifty feet below. To hold on was there
fore her only resort With all the dis
patch possible Mr. Mallett and others came
to her rescue, and succeeded in taking
her from the perilous situation, almost
uninjured, but of course very much ex-
hausted from fright.
Now comes the strangest part OF the
story. The horse fell and lodged on the
same shelf to which his mistress was cling
ing. In falling he had turned complete
ly around but there be stood on the narrow
ledge of stone, hugging the wall, and
evidently realizing his position, if ever
/ horse realized anything. He did not stir
muscle, hardly breathed, for an hour or
more, until ropes strong enough to take
/ out were sent for and obtained at camp
mile distant. BY the time these arrived
/ fifty men or more who were engaged in
the canon had gathered aIorg the trail.
and as many as could make themselves
useful assisted IN lifting the animal up.
He seemed toTealize fully that steps were
being taken for his relief, and did not
move TO make resistance until he was
] placed upon a sure footing in the path.
/ The escape of Mrs. Mallett under the
circumstances, is little less than niracu-
lous. and that the horse should have been
saved is almost incredible. The accident
] and the rescue have proved prolific
themes OF conversation in Canon, and the
/ first report caused corresponding excite
ment. Mrs. MaIlett, IS the wife of Prof
MalIett, who is the proprietor of the
reduction works at Canon. Deslcer (C'og-)
Tribune