St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-02-07
A Ride 10 Death.
THE DANGERS OF coAsTING.

The many serious and fatal acct
dents this winter from coasting re-
minds IA writer in the n. Y. Times of
the following thrilling story: 1t oc-
Cured in Colorado, in the early days
of mining there, in 1865. After IA
heavy fall of snow the road between
Nevada and Black Hawk had become
thoroughly smooth, and an immense
pung- a rough sleigh on runners was
secured for ride one night about mid
night, 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 turn safely in the road at Cen
trail, but, as will be seen, no sufficient
allowance was made for the great mo-
mentum of the pung.
The first half-mile was compare
lively light grade, the sleigh sped
along at II splendid rate, and all on
board were joyous 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 timidity, earnest
" grasped the side of the pung, or
chung closely to one another. There
culiar kind of lever-like brake had
been provided. 1t reached under the
pung aud was easily worked. 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, a collision with a
belated miners team seemed i'm
minent, but vociferous warnings en-
abled them to pass in safety. Down.
down, down they flew, and Central's
main street was entered. This
thoroughfare, scarcely wide enough
for two teams to pass each other, and
which. in daytime, presented Il busy
and noisy scene, was now deserted by
vehicles, but the sidewalks were
througed with people who had con-
gregated to witness the great coasting
event of the season. AS the sleigh
rushed down i'll its 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
as though the sleigh had no sooner APP
peared 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 bad the management of the
sleigh bent all their energies to the
evolution that was TO carry them past
all obstacles. The slightest miscalcu-
latiou might prove fatal, moments
delay might ieOpardize their lives.
The sled had gathered snch moment
um that it seemed impossible to stop
1t, and the steadiest head aud strongest
hand appeared to he of little avail.
The shouts of merriment instantly
died out. All was still as death. Men
clutched each other in frantic grasp,
and the ladies. so brave before, looked
despairingly for help. At the turn on
the lower right hand side was drug
store. Like nearly all the buildings
of those days, it was constructed of
light material.
As the sled approached this corner.
an effort was made to check and turn
IT, but for some reason the brake re-
fused to perform its work, and the
''rudder' DETECTING the front end.
caused it to turn with a snddenness
that threw four of the occupants far
ont to the opposite side of the road.
Like a flash of lightning the sled