The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-18

bului Lne lIhll WIS blOnk elluP4s uFPEEe1
ion across the ridge, This depression, aftel
a little, deepened rapidly, and became /
tortuous, impossible ravine. For tint
the road followed the hollow, but as the
latter dropped away it was impossible Il
follow it. At this point the track began tc
hug the side Of the mountain on the left
and the route then began to be one which
was anything but q pleasant one,
Two miles from the place wherewe com
menCed to descend the ravine on our right
had so deepened that its bottom was lost in
the clouds below. We were descending
along narrow trail which had been blast
ed out on the side OF the mountain, and
which was but just wide enough for the
wheels Of the coach. And now, in a mo-
ment, the cloud masses rolled up and away,
as il they had been somethingin the nature
Of a great curtain. In y second, as it were,
there was u transformation more wonderful
than any which has come from the mean
tati0ns OF an omnipotent sorcery,
We were between two vast masses, or
what seemed like two parallel mountain
ranges, separated by u fathomless and mar
row rift, Far down in this narrow abyss
which separated the parallel ranges we
were moving, glanced up, 1t was like
looking out from deep slit in the earth
On both sides to the right and the left, the
two walls rose to the very zenith. | looked
to the right and down, and although am
fair Cragsman, | withdrew my eye with q
dizzy feeling OF horror 1t was on the very
edge Of u precipice along which we move.
So close to its brink were we, that, from
the projecting seat which occupied ON the
right side OF the vehicle, it seemed us ii the
abyss opened directly beneath me, In the
mOmentary glance which | had caught
glimpses OF pine so far below that they
seemed to be mere pot plants strewn along
the sides and bottom otthe chasm.
On the road there was wash from the
side Of the mountain to the left, and with
it had come fragments Of rocks. Now the
wheels OF the coach sank into the soft
wash, or again rolled over a piece Of rock,
with the consequence that the coach
pitched and rolled like cookie shell on
stormy waters When there was urch to-
ward the ravine it seemed as II the vehicle
were about to Overturn into the abyss, and
for brief instant would feel as II were
suspended by nothing over infinite depth.
Not sound was heard save the querul.
GUS creaking Of the leathern hinges and
springs OF the coach, and the grating OF
the brakes on the wheels Even the
brakes, SO fastened that the hind wheels
no longer revolved, were not sufficient;
held by grasp OF iron, the two powerful
wheel.hOrses were almost on their
launches, and were Juggling away at the
p0le-straps till they were apparently about
IN hn nuR al I S,1n
along the road in our front with the hope
that there might be visible some termina-
ton Of the appalling situation.
At the moment when, as II were, | at
tempted to interrogate the future, saw
that we had entered on comparatively
straight line Of road II appeared to thus
continue far along in q direct line till 1t
was cut of, mile away, by vast spur
that jutted out Of the side Of the mountain.
Here it seemed, as looked from the top
Of the coach, that the road came to an end.
We were descending at an angle OF not less
than thirty degrees, and Mt each step an.
tiCipatCd that the horcs would be carried
from their feet by the tremendous pressure
OF the coach. The wheels at one moment
would sink into the soft wash, and the
next would strike boulder sending the
coach now against the rocks OF the wall TO
the left, and then over to the right, till the
abyss yawned directly beneath mo like the
ravGnOus Jaws Of hell II
We had made perhaps quarter OF q
mile stretch before lis when, in the midst
OF lurch from which there seemed no
possible recovery, there rang out q sharp
crack like musket shot: there was sud.
den cessation or the grinding noise from
the wheels; the heavy coach shot forward
rs II on the backs OF the horses; and then,
like binding flash came the horrible
conviction that the brakes had given
way
"God Almighty jump roared voice
at my left, and then rose to my feet MS
waited for the driver to detach the plung.
ing mass Of horses from the stage, and
stood ready to spring when the way was
cleared. For the millionth part OF an in.
slant my mind took in the case OF the nine
passengers who were pent up below, and
for whom there was no possible escape,
and then It reverted to my own case, as |
chung with difficulty to the guards Of the
seat and braced myself for the leap.
Just then the driver rose to his full
height; his long whip described swift cir.
Gle in the air, and then fell across the backs
Of the leaders. They sprang forward like
n shot from cannon, dragging the wheel
horses from contact with the COACH As
the lash struck the leaders the driver
gathered up his reins, gave fierce yell OF
encouragement to his team, and then,
leaning far back, he began to lead them
directly down the narrow road, and at the
same time TO rein them in with all his
strength. The four horses at once were
thrown into avid run; then / cOmpre.
hGnded that he was about to undertake to
keep the road, instead Of abandoning the
coach to its fate.
1t was not q full second from the giving
way Of the brakes till we were shooting
down the steep incline with the swiftness
and weight OF thunderbOlt. The broad
sOmbrero Of the driver had been caught
away by the wind, and as he stood his long
white hair was tossed on tho air like the
name Of runawayhOrse. How saw this
detail and Others know not. What passed
is like some paralyzing nightmare. felt
nothing; Isaw objects near me and In the
distance, and yet without fully compre.
| bending them. The most salient reCollec-
tons are the long hair brushing my face,
and the horses which did not seem to be
individuals, but II rushing solid mass OF
white, like great mass OF foam driven in
front Of n powerful steamer.
So far as can remember, there was not
word uttered after the terrified exclama.
ton Of the passenger to my left and the
shout Of the driver to the horses. All APP
pearetl to be frozen into silence. The only
sound was that Of the fierce pounding Of
the iron hoofs on the rock-bottomed road,
and the sharp contact Of the wheels with
the occasional boulders which lay across
the track.
On either side there was nothing which
took precise shape. We moved, as It were,
between two great walls Of darkness, some.
what MS il the case when one Razes from