Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-05-31


deal Of nerve, and firm grasp of the
brake.
One evening an accident occurred to
one of those engaged at the mine.
I Instantly got out my bicycle, explain
ing that I could go swifter than a
horse down the slope. In few min
utes had on my nding-suit and was
off.
The night was clear and crisp; the
full moon, except in few curves,
shone directly into the gulch, lightly
up the road. Leaning well back,
with my legs over the handles, and
firm finger on the brake, 1 allowed
the wheel to glide down the first long
lope alta speed which I had never
dared to venture before. Finding
the motion safe, I allowed the ma
chine to run faster, and still faster.
Over the first level l shot like arrow.
Down the next slope seemed to
glide on the rushing wind. Then l
turned curve and ran into the shad-
ow Of the mountain upon the next
level. Knowing every inch Of the
road, howeverI did not slacken speed,
except very slightly.
AS I few over the top Of the next
slope, steep plunge of nearly half a
mile, another curve completely shut
out the moon, making the road nearly
as dark as a pocket. Here 1 put
down the brake hard, and checked
my speed materially, Still 1 knew
the road so well that I had no fear.
But just as I was upon the steepest
plunge of the slope - .t
Clink! -s--- Il H..
Something few from the machine
like bullet. Instantly the wheel
darted forward like. the, rush Of a
frightened bird, while the brake lev
er came home to the steering-bar un-
der my finger. -.s..
The brake had broken short off in
the elbow! r....,a -
There was nothing to check the
machine, which was running away
with me, with over five miles of noun
tain grade before me, and the chance
of meeting team any moment in the
dark. I might have leaped backward
off the machine at the instant OF the
break, but FIVE seconds afterwards it
was too late. To attempt to dismount
would be certain death. There was
nothing to do but to stick to the sad
die and take my chances.
Within thirty seconds the machine
had accomplished velocity never
before experienced by mortal rider.
The sensation was like that of falling
through the air. The rush Of the at
mosphere past me was like fearful
gale. The wheel no longer felt the
inequalities of the road. 1t seemed
to glide smoothly over perfect plane
I felt no sense of shocks from pebbles
or hollows, or protuberances. Tht
speed gave the wheel such an obsti
nate disposition to keep on straigh
line that I could not have turned
short curve If / had tried. A very
little too much turning of the steer
ing-bar would have wrenched it in
stantly from my hands, and smashed
the wheels to fragments. But m,
| practice had taught me the necessit..
of making my curves long and eas..
when coasting at great speed; and b.
instinct my grasp upon the steering
bar was that of desperation, both m
, arms being kept as firm, yet flexible
t as spring steel.
When the accident happened TO th
brake I was just entering q dark curv
l in the shadow of the mountain. Th
wall on my right appeared dari
almost invisible brown, while th
: chasm on my left was Of an ink
!, blackness. As / rounded the hollo
of the curve / could see the mool
light shining far ahead on the poil
LOT the elbow which I must turn whel
. the road was channeled into the wal
;. As I approached it, had the SEN
y and nerve to run on the outer side
the road, close to the edge OF q
. canyon, thus giving myself as long
g turn as possible. 1 found by Z
track Of the wheel afterwards that
the sharpest turn I had actually n
\ den within three inches Of the e
: treme edge for several rods, where,
had been going at q less feari
speed, the wheel would cetainly ha