The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-02-19
AN EXCITING INCIDENT.
A SLEIGH RIDE FOR LIFE.

masses of inky clouds rolled up from til,
northwest. 1t grew cold very rapidly
and before 8 o'clock the soft .'sposhv'
snow had become frozen mass of ice
The morning dawned clear and bright
with the mel curry only four degrees abov,
zero. Frosty particles glittered in til,
air. and the cleared fields at the base o
the distant blue Oquago mountain seem
ed cased in letters of ice.
Boys said father, rising from til,
table and going where the warm fire wa.
glowing like molten gold in the opel
CRATE. cant you take Mr.. Fenton'.
sleigh home this morning as you 90 t,
school It's down hill most of the way
and you can draw it easily by hand You
will have plenty of time before schoo
commences, and then you'll not be both
cred to come home with the horses
or course, we could take it, just as vel
as not. John was II and | was 10, hale
and hearty and with our strength OF
muscle and ambitious spirits, we undoubt.
eddy felt, as most young men of that age
do, that we were full team for almost
anything. The long, yellow sleigh, with
three seats and heavy swan-necks III
front, was soon at the door. The dinner
basket and books were placed therein,
and each took his place at the pole, for a
brisk run along the icy road.
Let me say one word to you, boys.
before You 60 said father, coming out
upon the stone steps. don undertake
to ride down hill. It's icy and its danger
Gus. Remember what tell you
"All right we replied in concert. as
we started on a RIM. The halcmile that
interviewed between our place and the
school house was soon passed. \ num-
Der of girls and boys were running about
the yard as we came up
''Hurrah for sleigh ride-a genuine
| old-fashioned good one.' l shouted, as
we halted before the door. Come. boys
and girls. get in. Load up the old sleigh,
and 60 down to Mr.. Fenton's with us.
Well have a glorious time. and we can
all GIT back before school commences.
| Come
Alas, in our moments of excitement
and hlarity, how soon was the admoni-
ton If a kind father forgotten
''Gaod ~ calculated Harry Sugars,
buttning up his coat and drawing on his
mites. Girls, get your cloaks and
shaws, and bundle up. and we'll have a
half our's fun fit for a king
In less than five minutes the long
sleigh was well filled with laughing,
merlcrowd. and we were ready to start.
Billy 'mith stood up in front to hold the
pole, md two Of the larger boys took
their laces on the sides to steer Herb
Marti stepped behind and pushed the
sleightwo or three rods as fast as he
couldun, and then leaped aboard. We
were airly under way. Before we had
passed over 10 rods. l began to see that
We Id undertaking dangerous ride
On flew. gathering speed faster and
lastelvith every rod we passed over. un-
til thdleen air blew in our faces, and the
trees ad fences seemed to dash past us
at anamazing rate of speed. What if
we shald happen to meet loaded vehi-
Gle? could not help shuddering at the
though. The boys who were acting as
steersrn were stout fellows, who knew
their Chy well: but noticed they already
had hal work, and the sleigh, with its
heavy ,ad of human freight, was getting
beyoncheir control. We had not taken
into c,sideration the icy road, and the
welghtf the load that was propelling
the smith steel sleigh-shoes with almost
irresistible power.
We Id good mile of down grade to
ride. al scarce quarter of the distance
had ye,een passed. A short way below
us the adj made an abrupt turn to the
right, ound spur of the steep hillside.
The grind had slid away on the lower
side of,e road around this turn, and an
almostleer precipice yawned below for
more TIN $50 feet Could we make the
turn We had little time to think. A
loaded eigh had passed along the road
, the mig before, and the runners had cut
deep flows in the soft slush, which was
| Il lss1a
these aed greatly in keeping our sleigh
in its pper position. We dashed around
the daierous turn like widfire. | shud-
dered l caught an instantaneous
glimps'f the tall tree-tops away below
: us. antbwer still the cluster of willows
that iii the icy shore of the river.
: At tlsame moment column of white
d steam OF up from the foot of the bank
t directl,elow us. and the shrill shrek OF
the loclotive rang fearfully in our ears
9 1t was up mail train. sounding its ar.
d proacl the. station.
The ad extended along the steep hill
side il southwest direction for half a
mile Cmore, when it crossed the rail
road, IL the foot of the descent. Ii
many aces the rocks had been SLICED
down or 30 feet to form the road-b bed
>. and lcipitous cliff extended below t.
the raoad track Neck and neck we
flew alg, even with the great putting
- iron MISTER below. 1t was a wild race
for liftfor if we met the train at the
crossil 10 earthly power could save us
Thengineer saw us, and prompt,
sound the danger signal-sharp ant
distin 1t rang alarmingly in our ears
like tknell of approaching death. The
steersn grasped the side of the sleigh
with, energy of despair, and setting
NJ their,th together, made last concen
trateetlort to check our lightning Xix,
caree But the moment their feet touch
ed tluriace they were thrown violentl,
J. upws nearly jerking them from thei
J posips, and the mad runaway sleigh
dashon as before.
Tengineer seeing our stuation-a
we arward lealned-opened the throt
tie threw on every pound of steam
the zine was made to bear. Fearin
for lives, he made the effort to pas
the 'ssing before we reached there. |
was awful moment. The sleigh tract
spuut behind us like silver ribbons
anthe stumps and corners of fence
Isl seel to dash past us like flashes .
liglng. Little pieces Of ice from thu
roaed flew spitefully in our faces, ant