The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-03
THRILLING STAGE RIDE.


Unmanageable Eorsss Dashinz Wildly
Down at Frantic Sped.
From the Detroit Free Press.
One night was crossing the Sierra Ne
vadas in a stage. was the only passenger
aboard, and hence had lonely and dreary
night of it. The long. slow pull of the
ascent had consumed all of the fore part Of
the night and much of the early morn.
II was about 2 o'clock when the summit
was reached, all unawares to either myself
or the driver in front, for in the tediousnesS
of the long climb aud the silence and soil
fairness Of tho surroundings we had fallen
fast asleep.
Suddenly there was sharp rolling of the
wheels, violent jostling of the seats, and
we both awoke to the terrible consciousness
that we were going down the mountain at a
most frightful gaia runaway team in
front.
When the down grade had been struck
the driver-usually a careful and vigilant
man-was so fast asleep that brakes were
not applied as promptly as was necessary,
and the horses. fading that they were not
under control, with the heavy stage
rushing upon them, became at once fright
ened and fed In frantic speed down the
steep descent.
When the driver first awoke and realized
the situation he was in mid-air, having
been violently thrown from his seat. He
had had the lines wrapped about his hands
and wrists, and, holding fast unoonsciously
he was jerked forward In the furious leaps
of the team. XXI
Yet it was but a moment or two until he
struck the ragged ledge below the roadway
aud l discovered my situation as l heard
him utter a horrible shrek and then low
moan as OF one in the death agony.
By this time the lower wheels Of the stage
were of the roadway; the stage itself was
on the edge OF the fearful preeipice, aud the
axle OF the vehicle being dragged along over
the stone wall That supported the lower side
Of the road-bed. 80. -.
The scream Of horror piercing my ears
emphasized the frightful situation, for the
driver was not only dashed to his death, Al
supposed, In the darkness below, but there
was the awful possibility that in the next
moment the stage and horses would go over
the brink and land In the dismal, unknown
abyss Of canyon beneath. The driver wa.
pulling with all his weight in the direction
| of that abyss
The half upset stage and the vigorous
| jerks of the frightened team in front
brought additional horrors to me; neverthe
less determined to make an effort to saw
my life, If possible, in leap upward. So
sprang out OF the stage IN desperate jumT
| from the higher side. reached the grounC
IN safety, but not moment too soon.
| The stars were bright overhead, and
through an opening in the forest tree
around on either hand l saw the LEADERS
of the team making a desperate effort x
avoid being pulled over the precpice, the
lines still in the grasp of the driver below
the man clinging to the ribbons with tn
clutch of death, and the rough stone edge
Of the lower wall of the roadway havin,
broken the speed, since the axle hao to b.
dragged foroibly over the uneven surface
With a swift decision of mind l saw
what must be done to stay the tragedy, 80
| jumped to the front, seized the leader b,
| the brldle-rein, and at once pulled his fac
square to the upper bank. thus stopped
the horses, and kept the stage still on tn
| road.
But where was the driverl This was tn,
| narrowing thought in my mind, for tn,
mans cries were hushed. called aloud To-
him, but no answering voice came in reply
no sound was heard save the echo from tn
| opposite wall of the canyon beyond aud tn
frightful painting of the trembling horses
| now well in my hands.
| Again and again I cried-louder anC
| wilder and deeper--in my distress. But
heard nothing in response save the mockins
echoes and the heaving sound of the restless
! horses. Ii was the most terrible moment o.
my life-terrible beyond expressionl
| Alone in the dismal sierras-themselvei
the picture and inspiration of gloom-alon,
in the deadnoss of the night, with a fright
ened team | knew not how to manage,
broken stage out Of its pathway, and a sup
posed dead companion to find and guard til
help or the morn or the grizzly bear should
come. No pen can ever adequately pOrtra,
the sensations of a soul in such q crisis.
Again / cried with wall of misery ant
despair. l knew not how long, how loud
nor to whom the wailing note went; bu
my cry was answered by low moan, tn,
moan of a man seemingly in the agonies o.
death. My driver was not yet dead, s,
thankfulness again sprang into my soul.
1t was some consolation even to hear tn
sound Of the mans agony. for with it came
the hope that the poor fellow, after all
would survive.
Hope grew stronger, for the next momen
came another and still another groan, thi
time from q man evidently with vita
energy and rallying struggle. Soon tn
driver crawled, half dead, up the bank, bu
the only thing he seemed to be thankful for
and the only fact he seemed to appreciate
was his courage in holding on the line
while he was being dashed and dragged OF
the rocks below.
In the darkness the first thing he wanted
seen was the manner in which he had per
formed the fearful feat ot-holding the
reins /, still trembling, held the frightened
horses against the upper bank, doing all
could to quiet the fears Of the painting beasts
By the aid OF matches we soon had gooC
light, and the situation was fully revealed
The poor driver was frightfully mangle,
and torn as he struck the sharp edge Of th,
rocks below.
tied up the man as best / could; w
mended the broken stage aud got it bacl
into the road, and then came the slow anC
cautious and painful desoeAG 10 the mex
station at the foot Of the range.
But poor Henry was never again able b,
go upon the road behind his team in the
long months during which remained Il
correspondence with friends over his fate.
| Knuannla on ~ LA a. $1,000. ~