The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-08-30
THE srAGE-DRIyER's STORY.
now General SCOTS Life Was Saved sno
How HIS Driver Twice Esoaped
Death


Tho traveller OF the present day, - he 10
hurried along BY the lightning express, IN
its buffet cars and palace sleepers, seldom
revsrts in thought to the time when the
Stage coach and packet were the only
means OF communication between distant
points. It is rare that one of the real OLD
time stage drivers is met with nowadays
and when the writer recently ran across
Favette Haskell, of Lockport, n. T., no
felt ike q photographer over the discovery
of some rare volume Of forgotten lore"
Mr.. Haskell, although one OF the pioneers
lewiston to Niagara Falls and Bu6aiol 10
hale and hearty and bids fair to live Tor
many years. The strange. stories OF his
early adventures would fill . volume. As
one time when going down . mountain
near Lewiston with no less personago
than General Scott as passenger, We
brakes gave way and the coach came ON
the heels Of the wheel horses. The only
remedy was to whip the leaders to gai-
lon. Gaining additional momentum with
each revolution of the wheels the coach
swayed and pitched down the mountain
side and into the streets Of lewiston;
Straight ahead 1t the foot OF the steep hill
flowed the Niagara River, towards which
the four horses dashed, apparently TO Ger
tain death. Yet the hrm hand never re-
Taxed its hold nor the clear brain It's con-
ception Of what must be done In the emer-
gency. On dashed the horses uueil the
narrow dock was reached on the river bank
when by . maslerly exhibition o. serve
and daring, the coach was turnedfn seareo
its own length and the horses brought 70 .
stand still before the pale lookers-on could
realize what had occurred. A purse vas
raised by General Scott and presented to
Mr.. Haskell with high compliments for hiS
81 - nd hR
Notwithstanding ali his strength and
his robust constitution the strain OF con-
tinuous work and exposurg proved too
much for Mr.. Haskelps constitution. Ihe
constant jolting Of the coach and tae neces-
ssrily cramped position IN w "a; - wa snd
at times he was obliged to abandon driving
altogether.
Speaking Of this period he said:
~ found It almost impossible to sleep az
night; my appetite left me entirely and
had tired feeling which l never knew Be-
tore and could not account for"
add you give up driving entirelyW
mo. tried to keep up bat it was only
with the greatest effort This state Of
things continued for nearly twenty years
until last October when ! went ali 70
pieces"
"Oh, doubled all MP; could NOT walk
without cane and was incapable OF any
effort or exertion. / had . constant desire
to urinate both day and night and although
/ felt like passing gallon every ten min
utes 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 thenS'
"What should have done long before:
listen to my wife. Under her advics Il b.
gan new treatment."
And with what RESULT"
Wonderful. It unstopped the closed
passages and what was still more wonder
full regulated the now.' The sediment vsBr
ished: my appetite returned and am now
we'll and good for twenty more yearswholly
through the aid Of Warmers Safe euro
that has done wonders for me - we'll a.
for 90 many othere."
Mr.. Hsskelf's experience II repeated ev-
cry day In the lives of thousands of
American men and wsmen- An unknown
evil Is undermining the existence of an i'm
Vulnerable number who do not realise the
danger they ere in until health has entire
~ departed and death perhaps stares them
In the face. To neglect such important
matters Il like drifting in the current Of
Niagara above the Falls.