McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-06-26
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 commu-
nication 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 ''for-
gotten lore.'' Mr.. Haskell, although
one of the pioneers in stage driving
Che formerly ran from Lewiston to Nj
agara Falls and Buffalo), 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 noun
tain near Lewiston with no less O per-
sonage than Gen. 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 lead
ers to gallop. 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,
at the foot of the steep hill, flowed the
Niagara river, towards which the four
horses dashed, apparently to certain
death. Yet the firm hand never re-
Taxed it's hold nor the clear brain its
conception of what must be
done in the emergency. On
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 a stand still before the pale
lockers on could realize what had oc-
Cured. Apurse 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
continuous work and exposure proved
too much for Mr.. Haskell's constitution.
The constant jolting of the coach and
the necessarily 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 a tired feeling which
l never knew before and could not &C
count for.''
'Did you give up driving entirely?"
''No. I tried to keep up but it was
only with the greatest effort. This
state of things continued for nearly
twenty years until last October when l
went all to pieces.''
'In what way?'
walk without cane and was incapable
of any effort or exertion. 1 had a con-
slant desire to urinate both day and
night and although felt like passing a
gallon every ten minutes only few
drops could escape and they thick with
sediment. Finally it ceased to flow
entirely and 1 thought death was very
near"
"What did you do then?''
"What I should have done long be-
fore: listen to my wife. Under her ad-
vice began new treatment.
''And with what resultp'
"Wonderful. 1t unstopped the closed
passages and what was still more won
derful regulated the flow. The sedi-
ment vanished; my appetite returned
and I am now we'll and good for twenty
more years wholly through the aid of
Warmers Safe Cure that has done Won
ders for me as we'll as for so many
Others"
Mr.. Haskell's experience is repeated
every day in the lives of thousands of
American men and women. An I'M
known evil is undermining the exist
ence 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