Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-02-16
A COACH DRIVERS ROMANCE.


called me to make visit to some Of
til" towns situated among the Cats
Xii Mountains; the incidents con-
n,ct,d with this trip so deeply IN
trrcstrd n3r taat l have decided to
give them to the public i'll detail as
thy happened
| reached the Catskill landing after
a delightful sail up the Hudson, IN
time to catch the afternoon coach for
Windham. which was my destination,
and settled myself comfortably be-
side the driver. Dill Adams by name,)
and behind four stout horses, for
ride of tweuty-siX miles over the
mountains.
This Bill Adams was parsonage,
and as my story deals principally
with him. perhaps a short description
of the man would not come amiss: he
was full six feet ia height, and of
splendid physique; his handsome face
was bronzed by exposure; he wore a
broad -brimmcd Mexican hat on one
side of his head, indicating wild
ness which his honest eyes did not
substantiate. As he gathered up his
ribbons" preparatory to starting he
eemed Just the man you would pick
ont to guide you safely over these
perilous mountain roads.
Everything being III readiness, with
a crack of the whip off we started on
our ascent of the mountains. My
whole attention was engrossed In the
beautiful scenery when l was sud
denly startled by peal of thunder,
and on looking up, saw cloud as
black as night almost directly over
our head. Bill advised me to get
inside if Il didn't want to get
ducking," but being well prepared
for rain, l assured him l should re-
main on deck" and greatly enjoy it.
Well" said he, Its a mighty
purity sight; the fireworks are fine,
and it will pay you for the risk you
run in getting wet skim
E.And indeed it was a beautiful
sight; the cloud rolled nearer and
nearer, till suddenly darkening the
whole country round, it burst over
us with all its fury; the rain fell in
torrents, and the mountain road
seemed suddenly converted into a
mighty river. while the lightning
played around us on all sides. now
revealing to our startled gaze an aw
full chasm hundreds of feet deep
from us. and then leaving us i'll
pitchy darkness: and the thunder
oiled and echoed against the moun-
tain sides until one would think
those mighty walls of rock were I'M
dergoing some terrible CONFUSION.
Altogether, we were not sorry when
we reached an inn; it boosted a
comfortable bar room, and to 1t we
repaired and seated ourselves before
the fire in the large, old fashioned
fire place After our experience had
been related to mine host and a few
other worthless who were congregated
there, Bill said:
"WeIl. boys. this nights purity
tough one, but 1t can't hold candle
to a night when l drove over this
here road some twelve odd years ago,
and if you don't mind yarn to pass
away the time, I'll fire away; it amt
much of a story, perhaps. but it's a
true one. I never shall forget that
snow storm. We don't have none
such nowadays, and l hope the time
for them is gone forever. Shall l
give it to you"
A most emphatic "Yes" came from
all sides, and Bill continued:
You that know me know I amt
no coward, but somehow I had a
horrible dread about going over
these roads that night; l knew l
might get stuck in a drift, and
freeze or lose the road, and get
thrown into some ravine to die;
however, knew the mails had to go
through, and that 1 was the only one
to take them: so I climbed up on my
box, gathered up my lines, ana left
Windham Center on time.
1T was showing pretty hard, but
I didn't have any trouble worth
mentionin', but got through to Cats
kill O. X l went into the Catskill
House and stayed till it was time to
leave on my return trip. Now came
the tug O war: this getting back to
Windham was what l dreaded; it
was time | was starting, so l mad my
flask retilled, and returned to my
stage ready for the start.
Il had only one passenger, and
when | saw that that passenger was
woman my heart almost stood still
in my body. What night for
woman to travel, and all alone, too!
l stuck my head in the door and
asked her if there was anything l
could do to make her more comfort
able. and she said NO, I thank YOU
with the sweetest smile in the world
I tell you, boys, that smile went
straight to my heart, and every time
I thought of it the blood went
coursing through my veins like mad;
the wind and snow had no effect on
me that night.
"Well, we got through to Cairo
without anything happening out of
common, and in due time were
about half way up the mountains,
with the snow clean up to the hubs
on the level: and I can tell you it
was no soft snap for my six horses to
pull ON through it, with the wind
bowling and WhlStllnS through the
pines as if the demons of old Rip
Van Wrinkles time were out looking
for some fresh victim.
But. owing to demon or wind,
suddenly my leaders began to prance
and snort, and before | knew it we
We're beng taken over the snow by
six runaway horses: they couldn't
run fast, for the snow held them
back. but what WAS still worse, they
were unmanageable on the most
dangerous part of the road. 1t is
very narrow there. and if you get
over the edge it is only question OF
luck whether you go down one hun
bred or five hundred feet, while on
the other side the mountain shoots
up into the air.
''Stiil on went the horses, getting
worse every step. until the leaders,
Iosinr fine road. plunged hpadlOng