The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-03-11

steep hillside. Tho ground had slit
away on the lower side Of the roa,
around this turn. and an almost sheer
prccipicc yawncd below for more thar
100 feet. Could we make the turn:
We had little time % think. A loaded
sleigh hal passed along tho road the
night before, and the runners had cnt
deep burrows in the soft slush, which
was now frozen like adamant. Doubt
less these aided greatly Ia keeping our
sleigh IN - proper position. We dash
ed around the dangerous turn like wild
fire. ! shuddercd lis | caught an in
Simultaneous glimpse 81 the tall tree
tops away below us, and lower still the
clusters of willows that lined the lev
shore Of the river
At the same moment column OF
white steam shot up from the foot OF
the bank directly below Us. and the
shrill shrek of the locomotive rang
feariully in orr ears. II was the up
mail-train, sounding its approach 70 the
! station.
The road extended along tho steep
hillside IN u southwest direction for
half mile or more. when il crossed the
railroad, near the foot OF the descent.
In many places the rocks had been
sliced down forty or fifty feet 10 form
the road-bed and precipitcus cliff ex-
tended below 70 the railroad track.
Neck and neck we flew along. even with
the great putting iron monster below.
4 was wild race for life; for II we met
the train At the crossing, no earthly
power could save US.
The engineer saw us, and promptly
sounded the danger signal sharp and
distinct. II rang alarmingly in our
ears. like the kncll Of approaching
death The steersmcn graspcd the side
Of the sleigh with the energy OF despair.
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 Jerk
ing them from their positions. and the
mad runaway sleigh dashed on as be-
fore.
The engineer seeing our situation
rs we atterward learned opened the
throttle and threw on every pound OF
steam the engine was made 10 bear
Fearing for our lives. he made the effort
70 pass the crossing before we reached
there. II was an awful moment The
sieigh-track spun out behind US like sill
yer ribbons, and the stumps and corners
Of fences seemed to dash past rs like
flashes Of lightning. Little pieces Of |
ice from the road-bed flew spifefully III |
our faces, and the wind blew SO hard |
we could scarcely breathe
Oh, how forcibly did fathers kind |
words Of warming come back to our
recollection now. and pierce our DISC
bedient hearts with mental anguish! /
Thoughts OF home and eternity passed
wildly through our minds in quick sue
cession. The girls clasped each others
hands. and with staring eyes and bated
breath tremblngly awaited the dread
moment. A moment only we had TO
think; and we were NJ the crossing, and
the crisis was at hand.
The sleigh struck the iron rails Just
ahead Of the cow-catcher, and with
sudden shock. lcapcd forward and up
ward. There was frightful changing
md Kissing around us. and deafening
;creech from the steam-valves as we
capped the track. The hot breath Of
he fiery monster fairly swept in our
aces as we dashed before him; aud he
svcn left his mark, in the shape Of
ong and deep indentation. on the rear
'f the slcgh-box.
The girls uttered wild shrek of
despair. and two Of them tainted in
ZACH others arms Billy Smith sank
,o"n, Paic ann tremp''ng' ana tne
~. .ol'eIeu anu snooK ~ tnougn
NV, n'll,vs. as'eu l'inos were struck
~ ". uoa'n,y weakncss. -
- ~ - over' however. We nha
M. ~, ~ l,ce; w Were y me pot.oin
!. s''o n'iI' ann w were III me
n. III ',.e a, H''u s''e'.'an swung 'hs'r na.s:
!. scoro n hanuhercnieis hu,'ereu
y tHe cdr-WiuuOWS as they u1Sncu UlSf