The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-05-30

the lives of both teamster and team,
where sometimes the brakes would not
entirely check the descent of an ore
wagon, until one of the nearly-level
places had been reached, the teamsters
were careful to keep the surface of the
road clean and smooth. By constant
practice l managed at last to ride my 81
inch University" roadster up the whole
slope of the Spondulix, of course resting
at levels, but my chief delight was the
coasting down again; it required skill, a
good deal of nerve, and firm grasp of
the brake. One evening an accident oc-
Cured to one Of those engaged at the
mine. instantly got out my bicycle,
explaining that could 60 swifter than a
horse down the slope. In a few min
utes I had on my riding-suit and was
off.
Tue night was clear and crisp; the full
moon, except in few curves, shone di-
rectly into the gulch, lighting up the
road. Leaning well back, with my legs
over the handles, and a firm finger on
the brake, I allowed the wheel to glide
down the first long slope at speed
which 1 had never dared to venture be-
fore. Finding the motion safe, I allowed
the machine to run faster, and still faster.
Over the first level 1 shot like an arrow.
Down the next slope 1 seemed to glide
on the rushing wind. Then I turned
curve and ran into the shadow of the
mountain upon the next level. Knowing
every inch of the road, however, I did
not slacken speed, except very slightly.
AS few oyer the top'of the next slope,
a steep plunge of nearly half mile, an
other curve completely shut out the
moon, making the road almost as dark as
a pocket. Here put down the brake
hard, and checked my speed materially.
Still, knew the road 90 well that I had
no fear. But just "a was upon the
plunge of the slope-Clink
flew from the machine like
bullet. Instantly the wheel darted for
ward like the rush Of a frightened bird,
while the brake-lever came home to the
under my finger. The brake
had broken short offin the elbow! There
was nothing to check the machine, which
was running away with me with over
five miles of mountain grade before me,
and the chance Of meeting team at any
moment in the dark. I might have
leaped backward off the machine at the
instant Of the break, but five seconds
afterwards 1t was too late. To attempt a
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 acquired vo-
locity never before experienced by NOR
tai rider. The sensation was like that of
falling through the air. The rush of the
atmosphere past mo was like fearful
gale. The wheel no longer felt the in
eeualities of the road. It seemed to
glide smoothly over a perfect plane. l
felt no sense of shocks from pebbles, or
hollows, or protuberances. In fact, be-
lieve that there were many places,
especially when l shot over the brow Of
sleeper incline, where the whole ma
chine took a flying hop, or rather a long,
skimming glide through the cir without
touching the road. 1t was lucky that I
had practiced so much coasting down
this very road, and that l knew every
inch of it so thoroughly. Going at that
amazing speed, leaning far back in the
saddle the steering was somewhat novel
and peculiar. The speed gave the wheel
such an obstinate disposition to keep on
a straight line that / could not have
turned short curve if ! had tried. A
very little too much turning of the ste er
ing.bar would have wrenched it instant
ly from my hands, and smashed the
wheels to fragments. But my practice
had taught me the necessity of making
my curves long and easy when coasting
at great speed; and, by instinct. my grasp
upon the steeripg-bar was that of desper=
alton, both my arms being kept as firm,
yet flexible, as spring steel.
When the accident happened, / was
ust entering dark curve in the shadow
of the mountain. The wall on the right
appeared q dark, almost invisible brown,
while the chasm on my left was of an
inky blackness. As 1 rounded the hol-
low of the curve, could see the moon
light shining far ahead on the point of
the elbow which l must turn where the
road was channeled into the wall. As I
approached it had the sense and nerve
to run on the outer side of the road,
close to the edge of the canyon, thus CIV
ing myself as broad turn as possible. ]
found by the track of the wheel after
ward 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 fall
of ! 600 feet. Safely past this, the worst
point, the remaining curves were easy.
Thus far there had been no time to think.
NV actions were more instructive than
reasoning. My mind was a wild, confus-
ed whirl of sensations and fears. But
now, as shot down the last steep in
cline, suddenly 1 experienced a terrible
mental shock. It 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 a team, perhaps . train Of
teams, coming up the road! In a few
seconds should be upon 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
he in the middle of the road. Ifhe was
riding, the team would be kept near the
mountain wall, and at a safe distance
from the outer edge of the track. Either
way my best chance was to pass on the
outside. As l approached. therefore, l
ran close to the outside edge of the track,