The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-07-12
THE sTAGE-DRIvER's STORY.
How General Scott's Life was saved
and How His Driver Twice
ESCAPED Death.

The traveller of the present day, as he is
hurried along by the lightning express, in
its buffet cars and palace sleepers, seldom
reverts in thought to the time when the
stage coach and packet were the only
means of communication between distant
points. 1t is rare that one of the real old
time stage drivers is met with nowadays
and when the writer recently ran across
Fayette Haskell, of Lockport, n. Y, he
felt like photographer over the discovery
of some rare volume of forgotten lore.
Mr.. Haskell, although one of the pioneers
in stage driving Che formerly ran from
Lewiston to Niagara Falls and Butfalo), IS
hale and hearty and bids fair to live for
many years. The strange stories of his early
adventures would fill volume. At one
time when going down a mountain near
Lewiston with no less parsonage than
General Scott as passenger, the brakes
gave way and the coach came on the heels
| of the wheel horses. The only remedy was
to whip the leaders to gallop. Gaining
additional momentum with each revolu-
| tien of the wheels the coach swayed and
| pitched down the mountain side and into
| the streets of Lewiston. Straight ahead
at the foot of the steep hill flowed the Nj
agara river, towards which the four horses
dashed apparently to certain death. Yet
| the firm hand never relaxed its hold nor
| the clear brain it's conception of what
"
| dashed the horses until the narrow dock
was reached on the river bank, when by
mastery exhibition of nerve and daring,
| the coach was turned in scarce its own
/ length and the horses brought to stand
/ still before the pale lookers-on could re-
alize what had occurred. A purse was
| raised by General Scott and presented to
Mr.. Haskell with high compliments for
his skill and bravery.
! Notwithstanding all his strength and
his robust constitution the strain of con-
| tinuous work and exposure proved too
much for Mr.. Haskells constitution. The
constant tolting of the coach and the ne
cessariy cramped position in which he
was obliged to sit. contributed to this end,
and at times he was obliged to abandon
driving altogether.
Speaking of this period he said:
81 found it almost impossible to sleep at
night; my appetite left me entirely and
had tired feeling which never knew
before and could not account for"
'sDid you give up driving entirely!
.s'No. tried to keep up, but it was only
with the greatest effort. This state of
1 things continued for nearly twenty years
until last October when l went all to
pieces"
'sIn what way?"
/ ooh, doubled all up; could not walk
without cane and was incapable of any
!
to urinate both day and night and al
though felt like passing gallon every
ten minutes only few drops could escape
and they thick with sediment. Finally it
ceased to flow entirely and thought death
was Very near.
"What did you do them"
"What / should have done long before:
listen to my wife. Under her advice be-
gan new treatment.
| And with what reSultI
''WonderfHl. 1t unstopped the closed
passages and what was still more wonder
full regulated the flow. The'sediment van
ished; my appetite returned and | am now
well and good for twenty more years
wholly through the aid of Warmers Safe
Cure that has done wonders for me as
well as many Others"
Mr.. HaskelPs experience is repeated
every day in the lives of thousands of
American men and women. An unknown
evil is undermining the existence of an
innumerable number who do not realize
the danger they are in until health has
entirely departed and death perhaps
stares them in the face. To neglect such
important matters is like drifting in the
current of Niagara above the Falls.