The Osceola times., 1883-06-23

elbow.
There was nothing TO check the ma
chine, which was running away with
me, with over five miles of mountain
grade before me, and the chance of
meeting teen any moment in the dark.
| might have leaped backward off the
machine at the instant of the break, but
five seconds afterward it was too late.
To attempt dismount would be certain
death. There was nothing to do but
stick to the saddle and take my chences.
Within thirty sec 'nds the machine
had acquired 4 velocity never before ex-
perienced by mcrtal rider. The seDsa-
ton was like that of falling through the
air. The rush of the atmosphere past
me was like fearful gale. The wheel
no longer felt the inequalities of the
road 1t seemed TO glide smoothly over
perfect plane. | felt no sense of shocks
fiom pebbles, or hollows, or protuber-
ances. In fact, believe that there were
many places, especially when shot over
the brow of sleeper incline, where the
whole machine took a flying hop, or
rather a long, sklmming glide through
the air, without touching the road
II was lucky that | had practiccd so
much coasting down this very road, and
that ] knew every inch of il so thorough
ly Going at that amazing speed, lean
ing far back in the saddle, the steering
was somewhat novel and peculiar. The
speed gave the machine such an obstin-
ate disposition to keep on straight line
that ] could not have turned a short
curve if | had tried. A very little turn
ing of the siecring-bar would have
wrenched it Immediately from my hands
and smashed the wheels TO fragments.
But my practice had taught me the ne
cessity of making my curves long and
easy when coasting at great speed and
by instinct my grasp upon the steering
bar was that of desperation, both my
arms being kepta as firm, yet flexible as
spring steel.
When the accident happened, | was
Just entering dark curve in the shadow
of the mountain. The wall on my right
appeared dark, almost invisible brown,
while the chasm on my left was of an
inky biackncss. As ! rounded the hol-
low of the curve, could see the moon
light shining far ahead on the point of
the elbow which ! must turn where the
road was channelcd into the wall As |
approached il had the sense and nerve
to run on the outer side of the road, close
to the edge of the canyon, thus giving
myself as broad turn as possible. |
found by the track of the wheel after
wards that at the sharpest turn | had
actually ridden within three inches of
the extreme edge for several rods, where
if ! had been going at a less fearful
speed, the wheel would certainly have
slipped over the edge, and carried me
down a fall of 900 feet
Safely past this, the worst point, the
remaining curves were easy. Thus far
there had been no time to think. My
actions were more instructive than reas-
oning. My mind was a wild, confused
whirl of sensations and fears.
But now, as | shot down the last steep
incline, suddenly | experienced terri
BILE mental shock. 1t was caused by
hearing the tinkle of bell far below,
and seeing the spark Of "a lantern such as
the mine teamsters carry in front of
their wagons. There was team, per-
haps a train of teams, coming up the
road In few seconds / should be up
on them. The shock made me think,
and that clearly. If the teamster was
walking beside his team, he would be on
the inside, next TO the mountain wall,
and the team would be in the middle of
the road. If he was riding, the team
would he kept near the mountain wall,
and at safe distance from the outer
edge Of the track. Either way my best
chance was to pass on the outside. As
approached, therefore, | ran close TO the
outside edge of the track, and flew bv in
safety, hearing the teamster shout as |
did so. Here it was lucky that | was
going at such great speed, for the team
ster saw the red light of my lantern
when | was nearly mile distant, and,
recognizing it, he started his team to-
ward the outer edge Of the road, so as to
give me the safest passage on the inside;
but | was upon and past him before the
team could be driven over, otherwise
should surely have ran into him.
And now the wheel ran along the level
at the bottom of the mountain still my
frightful velocity did not perceptibly
diminish. | ran out past the works and
into and along the village street. Lucki-
ly the street was covered thinly with
sand-not enough to make it bad riding,
but sufficient to gradually stop coasting
wheel. My speed slackened perceptibly.
Still | ran nearly through the village,
and then managed to turn broad corner
and ran up the slope of a side street,
which finally checked my speed so that
| vcntured to drop my feet cautiously
and take the pedals, after touching them
as they came up for a number of revou-
tons, to help to check the machine.
And so ] finally stopped and leaped to
the ground exactly in front of Dr. Cam
eron's house.
On mounting at the minc-house, had
looked at my watch, after habit ! had;
and now from the same habit, looked
at it again. | was not astonished to find
thai ! had made the nine miles from the
mine TO the doctors in a few seconds
less than thirteen minutes. Allowing
six and quarter for the first two miles
before the brake gave way, and | must
have made the last seven miles in less
than six and three-quarter minutes. |
firmly believe that covered seven miles
in less than six and half minutes, in
credible as such speed seems.