News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-03-29
ADVENTURE IN ARKANSAS.

The completion of the Frisco Railroad
from ST. Louis to Van Buren,. Ark, is a
practical abolition of the old stage line
from Fayetteville to Alma on the Fort
Smith and Little Rock Railroad. This
old route, passing through the virgin
forests Of Western Arkansas and over
two ranges of mountains, is replete with
the most beautiful scenery as the road
winds its rugged course over mountains
and valleys for nearly hundred miles.
Even the far-famed Land of the Sky"
cannot boast of more diversified attrac-
tions. About two wears ago, having en-
joyed the season at the justly celebrated
Eureka Springs, and hearing so much
about this wild, picturesque country, I
concluded toendure the hardships of the
long stage ride and return home by this
route. At Fayetteville I transferred my
self from a Pullman to seat in the cum
bersome stage the mail bags were safely
stored away, and promptly at two p. N.
the driver took his seat, and as our four
horses started IN a lively trot we realized
that our journey had begun. There We're
two other passengers. One was a mild
eyed gentleman of digTlified reserve, who
proved to be a college professor, while
the other wore a flannel. checkered over
shirt, and his pantaloons were tucked
into pair Of very heavy, coarse boots,
evidently a laborer. The professor ex-
planned that he was employing his sum-
mer's vacation III securing specimens
with which to enrich his chronological
and botanical collections, and every time
he saw a curious bug or flower he would
want to get ont and secure it, until the
driver finally declared that he couldn't
lose the time, and refused to humor him
further As Captain Cutie would ex-
press it, he was ''chock full Of science, -
and when he found he couldn't collect
specimens " he began an interminable
scientific dissertation that was about as
monotonous and interesting as the pat
tering of rain on the house top. We
reached the summit of the first range Of
mountains just at sunset, and paused
until the sun sank beneath the horizon,
the most gorgeous scene I ever witnessed.
No one can boast of having seen a gIori-
Gus sunset until be has viewed one from
a mountain top ON a clear, summer even
ing. We resumed our Journey, and di-
rectly the moon arose like a great ball Of
fire, that lighted up mountains and val
leys with irdescribable beauty. I had
taken my seat on the box with the driver
that 7 might the better enjoy the view,
and at the same time escape the learned
jargon of the professor, who was focus
ing his learning upon our friend of the
checkered shirt
In making a steep ascent We passed
along a very narrow ledge overlooking a
chasm so deep that the light of the moon
failed to penetrate the cavernous dark
ness. We paused to admire the awful
grandeur Of the scene, and while the
professors head was stuck ont of the
window in silent admiration his silk hat
fell off, struck the ground, bounded
over the brink and disappeared from
view in the darkness below. He jumped
out and appeared as though inclined to
follow it, and begged us in the most pitt
ful manner to get it for him. Consider
ing the trivial loss Of the hat his anxiety
appeared most ridiculous. We finally
discovered it, caught in some bushes,
about ten feet below, and entirely be
yond reach. Upon the professors offer
ing SO for its recovery, the driver took
the reins from his horses, tied them to-
gether, and securing one end to tree
and the other around his body, let HIM
self down, and presently appeared with
the hat, to the great Joy of the
owner, who cheerfulIy paid the reward
He then explained that he had been
boarding mp two years salary in antici-
patton Of his summers excursion, and as
we all seemed honest friends, he did not
mind owning that he had 81, 900 sewed
in the lining of the hat. Renewing our
journey, about midnight We reached the
summit Of the Boston mountains, where
we changed horses and ate supper The
stages going and returning usually met
in the valley about six miles beyond this
point, and not more than ten days pre-
vious to this time, both stages had been
waylaid and robbed, but the robbers had
been subsequently captured on the Iron
Mountain Railroad. We discussed the
incident and congratulated ourselves
that the band had been broken up, and
that We were in no danger Of being called !
upon TO part with our valuables. Start
ng with a fresh team, we ratified down |
Inc long, rocky descent at lively pace, |
,rossed the valley, and our team settled /
Town into a walk, as they began the |
scent ON the other side. Suddenly from .
behind "a tree sprang an object that /
eized the reins of the horses, while .
rom behind another appeared n mn
nth a shotgun. Promptly at the word