St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-07-05
THE STAGE-DEEyER,s STORY.
Tow General Scottss Life Yves Saved and
How His Driver Twice Escaped
Death


The traveller Of the present day, as he is
Urried along by the lightning express, in
IS buffet cars and palace sleepers, seldom
everGs In thought to the TINA when the
tage coaca and packet were the only
0eans OF communication between distant
POINTS. Il is rare that one of tue real old
tine stage drivers is met with nowadays
md when the writer recently ran across
Fayette Haskell, of Lockport, N. Y, he
cit like Il photographer over the discovery
i some rare volume Of forgotten lore. "
tr. Haskell, although one of the pioneers
a stage driving (ae formerly ran from
lewiston to Niagara Falls ana Buf1a1ol is
vale and hearty and bids fair to live for
Hany years. The strange stories OF his
gariy adventures would fill O volume. At
one time when going down q mountain
near lewiston with no less o parsonage
than General Scott as a passenger, the
brakes gave way and the coach came on
the heels of the waeel horses. The only
remedy was to whip the leaders TO gal
lop. Gaining addiGi NAL momentum with
each revolution of the wheels the coach
swayed and pitched down. the mountain
side and into thu streets OF lewiston
Straight ahead at the foot of the steep hill
flowed the Niagara River, towards which
tho four horses he'd, apparently to cer-
tain death. Yet the firm hand never re.
Taxed its hold nor The clear brain its con-
ception of what must be done in tho ener-
gency. On dashed tue horses until the
narrow dock was reached on the river bank,
when by a mas, erly exhibition of nerve
and daring, the coach was turned in scarce
its own length aud the horses brought to q
stand still before the pale lookers-on could
realize what had occurred. A purse was
raised by General Scott and presented to
Mr.. Haskell with high compliments tor 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.. Haskelps consultation. The
constant iolting of the coach and the neces.
Sarily cran1ped 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 be-
fore and could not account for"
!" Did you give up driving entirely"
"No. tried to keep up but it was only
with the greatest effort. This ate of
things continued for nearly twenty years
until last October when I went ali to
pieces"
"Iu what wayW
sou, doubled all up; could not walk
without cane and was incapable of any
effort or exertion. had constant desire
to urinate both day aud night and although
felt like passing gallon every ten min
utes only few drops could escape aud
they thick with sediment. Finally it
ceased to flow entirely and thought death
was very near.N
;" What did you do then?'
"What I should have done long before:
listen to my wife. Under her advics be-
gan new treatment"
And Wi b what RESULT?
Wonderful. It unstopped the closed
passages and what was still more wonder
full regulated tue flow. The sediment van
ished; my appetite returned and am now
we'll and good for twenty more yearswholly
through the aid of Warmers Safe Cure
that has done wonders for me as well as
for SO many Others"
Mr.. Haskell's experience is repeated ev-
cry day in the lives of thousands of
American men and women. An unknown
evil is undermining the existence of an in
Vulnerable number who do not realize tue
danger they are in until health has entire
ly 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.