Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-02-13

n NIUE " LEA uC luuuy
and fatal accidents this winter from coast.
ing reminds a writer in the New York
Times of the following thrilling story: 1t
occurred in Colorado in the early days OF
mining there, in 1860. After a heavy fall
of snow the road between Nevada and
Black Hawk had become thoroughly
smooth, and an immense pung-l rough
slei gh on runrers-was secured for ride
zone night about midnight, when the course
would be clear Of teams. 1t was about
twelve feet long and would accommodate
twenty five people. A steering apparatus
had been provided by which it was thought
that the vehicle might be made to make a
turn safely in the road at Central, but, as
will be seen, no sufficient allowance was
made fer The great momentum oftho nung.
The first half-m mile was a comparatively
| light grade, the sleigh sped along at
| sp endid rate, and all on board were Joy
Gus at the prospect of successful run to
the bottom OF the long hill. The sleigh
| soon showed signs of increasing speed as
the grade increased and those who were
at all inclined to manifest timdity, ear.
nestly grasped the side Of the pung, or
chung closely to one another There being
danger of too great speed, peculiar kind
of lever-lke brake had been provided. 1t
reached under the pung and was easily
wor ked With this to check the mad
career of the sleigh it was believed no
danger could arise that could not be
promptly met. Down the hill they flew.
Once, as Central was neared, collision
with belated miners team seemed I'M
mnent. but vocferous warnings enabled
item to pass in safety. Down. down they
flew, and Central main street was enter
ed. This thoroughfare, scarcely wide
enough for two teams 10 pass each other,
and which, in daytime, presented busy
and noisy scene, was now deserted by
vehicles, but the sidewalks were thronged
with people who had congregated TO wit
ness the great coastlng event of the sea-
son. As the sleigh rushed down in lis
wild course loud, long shout went up, in
which the pleasure party joined, BY this
time the sleigh was sweeping on at
most terrific speed, which fairly took
away the breath of those who stood gazing
at the strange spectacle. 1t seemed rs
though the sleigh had no sooner appeared
upon the scene than it had shot out of
sight and into space. 1t was one sudden
dash and then gone.
As the bend in the road was reached,
those who had the management of the
sleigh bent all their energies to the evolu.
ton that was to carry them past all obsta-
cles The slightest miscalculation might
prove fatal, a moments delay might jeop
ardize their lives. The sled had gathered
such momentum that it seemed impossible
to stop it, and the steadiest head and
strongest hand appeared to be of little
avail. The shouts of merriment instantly
died out. All was still as death Men
cluched each other in frantic grasp, and
the ladies, so brave before, looked desp lr-
ingly for help. At the turn on the lower
right hand side was a drug store. Like
was constructed of light material.
AS the sled approached this corner, IN
effort was made to check and turn it, but
for some reason the brake refused 10 per |
form its work, and the "rudder' defect
ING the front end, caused it to turn with a
suddenness that threw four Ct the occu
pants far out to the opposite side of the
road. Like flash of lightning the sled
bounded across the sidewalk, and struck
the drug store with such force that it
oleaved its way through it like an AK
through muslin sheet. There was a sud |
den crash, loud cry, fall, and the next
instant all was quiet, save the groans of
the injured ones. The people who had
been standing on the street at this point to
witness the flashing by of the party, hur-
red over.
The pung had passed through the store,
demolishing its contents, and had fallen
upon the rocks and snow, where it lay
wrecked. Here and there, far and wide,
were the pleasure party who had made the
fearful plunge. Six of them-two ladies
were found dead, their skulls smashed
and their bodies crushed out of human
shape. The living were terribly manned
and such IS were sensible cried piteous'y
for aid. They were cared for tenderly,
but before daybreak four more had paid
the penalty for their rashness in death.
Those who witnessed the flight of that
sleigh TIN ough the store, like an arrow
through jan apple, declare that it was the
most awful sight they ever beheld.