The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-02-09
 DOWN HILL TO DEATH.
New York Hines.

,Iors were that there would DC ions and d,eary winter By holiday times the -o,ds which were constantly used, had become firmly packed down with snow. .h,-h was as smooth and glassy as IL was possible 10 make it. The ores from ,he r,ines above were hauled on sleds, and this had beaten down the track until .he grooves worn by the runners were like inc polished steel that formed them. once started in them al Nevada, sled. vnche-ked, would fly to Black Hawk wl,hcu, giving one time to say good day ;o any acquaintance ne rnlgnt pass IT Central It was like being shot out ot a ea,apul, or dropped down an elevator sha.;.
 one of the favorite pastimes, moonlight nights n winter, was coastlng, ana the course lay over this road, or street, Sor,e. DO timid 10 make long journeys, xoc,3 2re-enp, sections of half mile or so w5 h gave them all the amusement ,hey needed. Others, more daring. would r,sl :neir necks and limbs on longer stretches, while still others were fool hardy enough to make the entire descent, from Nevada 10 Black Hawk. l, was fas, a::er New Years Tn this winter Is6s-t-that party was made up to ride over ,his course. The nights were resplen- den, them with the light of full moon, and me great mountains on either side oi the gulch lowered far above, coldly mag nifcen, in their immaculate coverings. The n ght chosen for the grea, coAsting p.ry was very cold. the thermometer showing a registry of about zero, but this gave crispiness to the snow, and lent an eAh!laration 10 the light air that sent the blooc dancing through the veins. The managers of the coasting party-ihe event had been looked forward to with great deal of inieres,-had arranged by con ference with teams,ers and others 10 have the road clear about |, o'clock that night, which vas easily accom- mPiished. there being but little traffic at that hour: An immense pung" had been secured "a rough sleigh. or runners, rather, about twelve feet long. which il was calculated would hold fully t~en,y-hve people. or the purpose of directing the course of this s,e.gh, a steering contnvanee was placed in the rear, and this. x was be- heved, would enable the occupants to turn .ne angle in the road Tn Central, where the stretch 10 Black Hawk began. It was not found di.ncul, 10 secure enough to make up the patty, and hve ladies even bravely. if no; foolhardiIy, insisted upon being counted in.
 A, ,he time agreed upon al! had con- greg..ed at Nevada. and were soon crowded upon the pung, and. a s'ouHei- low a, he tiller, the send-off was gwen. The f-st half mile was comparauvely hgh, grade, the sleigh sped along al a spleno. .d rate, and al, on board were oy- ous ia the prospec. of successful run to the bottom of the long hill. The sleigh sooa showed signs of increasing speed as the grade increased. and those who were a, all inclined to manifest urnidry ear nes,iy grasped the side of the pung, or cluns loosely to one another. There be jag danger of too great speed, peculiar lever..ke brake had been provided. II reached under the pung and vas easily worked. With this 10 check the mad career of the sleigh l, was believed TO danger could arise that could no; be promptly met. Down the hill they flew. Once. as Central was neared, collision with q bela,ed miners team seemed im- minen,. but vociferous warnings enabled them 70 pass in safety Down, down, down they few, and Cenual's main street was entered. This thoroughfare. scarcly wide enough for two teams 10 pass each other. and which, in daytime, presented busy and ro,sy scene. was now deserted oy vehicles, bu, the sidewalks were thron sed with people who had congregatec 10 ~1'- ness the grea; coas,lng even; oi iae sea son. As the sleigh rushed down IT its wild course loud. long shou, went cp, in which the pleasure party oined. by this time the sleigh was sweeping on at mos, ,errifc speed. which falriy took away the breath of those who stood oy gazing a, the strange spectacle liseemec as though the sleigh had no sooner ap- peared -pon the scene than II had shot out of sigh, and into space II was one sudden dash and then gone.
 As the bend of the road vas reached those who had the management of the sleigh bent all their energies 10 the evo- luton ,ha, was to carry them past all oo- stacles. The slightest miscaleuizfion migh, prove fatal: a moments delay nigh; jeopArdize their lives; faiiure oi the brakes or steering apparatus miSn' send them all 70 ne3scu-
 One of the participants in that a.fui ride said af,erwAd that none appeared to realize ;he danger that bsses them until the turn in the road was approached. The sled had gathered such momentum that 1t seemed impossible 10 stop II, anc the s,eadiess head and strongest hand appeared 10 be of little avail. The shouts of merrimen, instantly died out. All vas still as death. Men elusehed each other in frantic grasp. and the ladies, 50 brave before. looked despAiringly for help; 4; the turn or the lower or ngh'-hanc slde was drug store Like nearly al me buildings of those days, i, was constructed of light maserial- l, stood close 10 the sidewaik, which was slightly higher than its floor. The rear of the store was per h,~~ ..~>n,xSye E~~< from the ground O;