The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-02-18
California Drivers.

The California ranchmen have won
derful aptitude for driving and one sees
some pretty good examples among the
hills. The road down the mountain
sides is entirely unguarded upon the
outer edge, and the descent in most
places is precipitous. A balky horse
or fractured wheel, or slight care.
lessness in handling the reins, might
easily send q carriage load Of people to
destruction-and an awful destruction,
too. The path is wide enough for one
pair of wheels only, but at intervals, IN
favorable places, it broadens SO tnat
teams may pass each other. 10 drlVe
in such a manner rs not to meet anotner
traveller midway between these places
is a special branch of the art. Inc
huge lumber t. ans which carry wood
from the mills in the mountains to the
yards in the valleys, being .unWleloy
and very heavy, are especially hard TO
manage. Yet the drivers always seem
easy and nonchalant. First there is
large four-wheeled oaken truck with a
seat in front ten feet above the ground;
behind it is another truck, somewhat
shorter but still enormously stout. Ihey
are fastened together and loaded Win
from ten to fifteen tons OF freshly-saWn
)umber-boards and joists. This mass
is drawn by six or eight, mules OF
horses, guided by reins and prodllgl-
. ously long whip. The first wagon has
powerful brake, worked by q long
iron lever by the driver upon his seat.
The driver is MIN of nerve and cour-
age. His skill must be of the hlghest
order. II will not do for him to take
fright even if in imminent danger, and
be must know to hairs breadth where
he can 20 and where he cannot. Tower
ing up far above the road, over looking
the most stupendous depths, and guild
ing with a few slender lines tremen-
dous force, he must needs be an adept,
and q tireless one. But beholder-
ignorant of the danger that surrounds
him-would say that bis work was
simple, and that he managed matters
with ease. True, he seems to. With
his broad-brimmcd hat shading his
sun-burnt face, his sinewy hands hold.
ing the reins with carelessness, his legs
outstretched, with one foot feeling the
all important brake, he Jogs onward
with his monster charge wltho:.t
trouble or concern; the bells upon the
horses breasts jingle little tune; the
great wheels crush the stones in the
path; the load creaks like ships hull
n a sudden gust; wild birds sweep
down into hazy, sunny depths below;
vet the driver seems to take no heed
But let "scare" take place; let herd
of runaway cattle appear at bend and
set the horses wild and then see what
will happen. The day. dreamer will be-
come a giant of strength; he is up in a
fash; he sllortens his hold on the reins,
and feeling his wagon start up beneath
him, places foot of iron on the brake.
The horses snort and rear and surge;
the harnesses rattle, the dust arises, the
load shrieks again, and the huge wheels
turn fatally faster and faster. An In
slant may hurl the wagon down into
the valley with its struggling train
mad rush to the other side OF the way
may end all in one horrible plunge.
Muscle, eye, brain and skill are then
brought to work so spiendidly together
that the perilis averted, and the locker
on, who knows not the way OF the land,
regards the teamster with profound re-
spect thereafter.-6zn Francisco argus.