The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-11-18
DEATH ON A STAGE COACH.
A Night OF Terror ON the Rocky Noun
tains-The Fatal Accident

"A special to the Denver Tribune gives
the following additional particulars of
the fatal upsetting of Wall s. Writer'S
coach in Weston pass last Friday even
ing while ON the way to Leadville:
The stage left Weston at noon yes
terday with IA passengers-nine inside
and five on the outside. When they
arrived at the Weston pass it was still
daylight, but before they reached the
summit they had been detained nearly
half an hour by blockaded freight teams.
On arriving on this side of the range
they were again detained by blockade
this time nearly an hour. By this
time. it had fallen dark, and the road
was known to be dangerous, but there
was no choice but to go on. When the
coach arrived at "a point about eleven
miles from this city the driver suddenly
became aware that the hind wheels were
sliding toward steep declivity on the
left side of the road. The brake, thor
oughly clogged with snow, had become
useless, and the coach was going at a
rapid gait down the hill. The driver
made every effort to stop the horses,
but before he succeeded in doing so the
coach slid over the edge of the road and
turned completely over, resting on its
top, in which position it was kept by
the weight of the mail bags. The in
side passengers were piled one upon the
other, and most of them wounded. The
driver, Tom Cooper, one of the best and
most reliable on the road, held to the
reins, but the animals detached them
selves from the vehicle and threw him
about 20 feet. Though his shoulder was
dislocated by the fall, it doubtless was
the occasion of his saving his life.
Rev. Mr.. Pickett, recently of Colo
RADIO Springs, was beside Cooper, the
driver, and, being held by the boot
apron, fell under the coach and was in
stantly killed.
Mr.. Phelps, who was on the inside of
the coach, stove hole through the back
of the coach with his hands, and, hav-
ing got out himself, helped his wife out,
and then another passenger. In the
meantime the driver had picked himself
up, and with his good arm helped the
other passengers out of the coach.
When the passengers were all out, and
it was learned how many were wounded,
the driver, and two others, walked two
miles through the binding storm to the
Nine-mile house, and procured wagon.
During their absence those at the wreck
suffered severely, not person in the
party having match wherewith to
start a fire. The entire party reached
the Nine-mile house about 9 O'Clock.
A coach left here with surgeons i'm
mediately on receipt of the news, and
by morning all the wounded had so far
recovered that they could be removed
to this city.
Mr.. Phelps, at first reported in a dy-
ing condition, had bad scalp wound,
deep cut in the cheek, and also in the
neck.
Mr.. Phelps was but slightly injured.
Mr.. Eddy, of the firm of Eddy s.
James, was badly bruised.
Mrs. Eddy received a severe contu-
sion of the head.
Mr.. C. L. Wright and wife, of New
York, were both badly cut and bruised.
]. H. Kamak, of this city, received
severe internal injuries and Cooper, the
driver, had his shoulder dislocated.
All Of the Injured are doing well, and
with the exception of Mrs. Phelps, will
be out in few days. The latter lady,
though not dangerously injured, will be
obliged to keep the house for some
weeks
Wall & Witter have notified all the
injured that they will foot all the bills.