Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-04-08

willows that h,r. liz, icy shore OF the
river.
At the same moment Il colrn o.
white steam shot up from the foot q.
the bank directly below US. AMI tie
shr.ll shrieh Of the locomo.iv ra.B
fesrfully in our ears. 1t was the MP
mail train, sounding lis approach to the
station.
The road extended along the s.. .p
hill side In southwest direction for
half a mile or more, when it crosse /
the railroad, near the foot of the de
scent. In many places the rocks had
been sliced down to 40 or 80 feet to
form tLv roadbed, and a precipitons
c!.ii ending below to the railroad
track. Neck aud neck we flew along,
even with the great pufling iron mon
ster below. 1t was Mid race for
life; for if we met the train ut the
crossing, 10 earthly power could save
US.
The engineer saw us, and promptly
sounded the danger signal-sharp and
distinct. 1t rang alarmingly i'll our
ears, like the knell of approaching
death. Tho steersmen grasped the side
of the sleigh with the energy OF de-
spair, and setting their teeth together,
made last concentrated effort to check
our lightning-like career. But the
moment their feet touched the surface
they were thrown violently upward,
nearly Jerking them from their posi-
tons, and the mad run away sleigh
dashed on as before.
The engineer seeing our situation at
we afterwards learEed-opened the
throttle and threw on every pound o!
steam the engine was made to bear
Fearing for our lives, he made tine
effort 10 pass the crossing before We
reached there. 1t WAS an awful mo.
men,. The sleigh track spun behind
us like silver ribbons, and the stumps
and corners of fences seemed to dash
past us like flashes Of lightning. Lit
tie pieces of ice from the road-bed flew
sritefully i'll our faces, and the wine
blew so hard we could scarcely breathe
Oh, how forcibly did fathers kind
words of warning come back to our rec
ollec.ion now, and piercelour disobedi
ent hearts with mental anguish
Thoughts of home and eternity passed
wildly through our minds in quick
succession. The girls clasped eacE
others hands. and with staring eyet
and bated breath tremblingly awaited
the dread moment. A moment only we
had to think; and we were at the cross
ing. and the crisis was at hand.
The sleigh struck the iron rails just
ahead of the cow.catcher, and with 6
sudden shock, lcaped forward and up.
ward. There was a frightful Changing
and kissing around us, and deatenine
screech from the steam valves as w
leaped the track. The hot breath Of
the fiery monster fairly SWEPT in oul
faces as we dashed before him; and he
even left his mark, in the shape of q
l. ng and deep indentation, on the real
of the sleigh-box
The girls uttered a wild shrek of de-
spair, and two of them tainted in each
others arms. Billy Smith sank down,
pale and trembling, and the steersmen
tottered and shook as though their oil.
most palsied limbs were struck with
deathly weakness.
1t was all over, however. We had
won the race; We were at the bottom OF
the hill, and we were safe. The engi.
neer and fireman swung their hats, and
score of hsndkercbiefs futtered at the
car windows as they dashed past us; but
we were too much frightened and ex-
cited to return the congratulation.
Our rate OF speed diminished rapidly
az We crossed the little fiat, and, short
ly after We struck the ascending grade
ceased altogether. The shock to ouI
nervous systems had been considerable
but nevertheless we soon recuperated
and while the girls slowly wended their
way back to the school-house, drew the
sleigh to its destination.
We returned to the school-room th al
morning ten minutes late. The teacher
had heard the story of our narrow es
cape, but did not mention it to as then
Perhaps our blanched faces and nerv
GUS glances revealed tho fact that We
had learned lesson We were not soon
to forget.
Aye, so it was! For weeks after tina,
exciting event l often saw in my
dreams the great, kissing iron steed Just
dashing upon me, and with the alarm.
ing scream of the steam whistle I would
give back the answer with despairing
shrek, and awake, trembling with
mortal terror. Father kindly forgave
us when he heard of it, but it was the
last of our riding down hill; and from
that day to this I cannot witness the
sport anywhere near the railway with.
out recalling my fearful experience,
when so many of us passed through
such narrow escape from death Sc
horrible Jasper T. Jennings, in
Golden Days.
A PERILoUs edwin