San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-19
A THRILLING STAGE KIDE'
A Wild Rush Down the Sierra Ne
yadaS

ore night was crossing the Slerrs
Nevadas In q stage. 1 was the only
messenger aboard, and hence had
lonely and dreary night OF IL. me
long slow pull of the ascent hau
consumed ali of the tore part OF the
nigbt and much of the early morn
r. was about 2 O'Clock when the
snmmit was reached, all uDawares to
either myself or the driver in front
for in The tediousness of the long
,.Ii,oh and the silence aud soIitarines
of the surrounding We had fallen fast
asleep. -.
| Suddenly there was sharp rolling
| of The wheels, violent jostling of the
seats, and we both awOke to the ter
ribIe consciousness that we were
going down the mountain at most
frig gait, runaway team in
front.
When the down grade had been
struck. the Internationally a careful
and vigilant man-was so fast asleep
that brakes were not applied as
promptly as was necessary; and the
horses, finding that they were not
under control, with the heavy stage
rushing upon them, became at once
frightened, and fled in frantic speed
down the steep descent.
When the driver first awOke an d
realized the situation he was i'm mid
air, having been violently thrown
from his seat. He had had the lines
wrapped about his hands and wrists,
and holding fast uDcons ciOusly, he
was being jerked forward in the furi-
our leaps of the team. Yet it was but
a moment or two until he struck the
ragged ledge below the roadway, and
1 discovered my situation as | heard
him utter horrible shrek and then
low moan as one in the death agony.
By this time the lower wheels of
the Stage were off the roadway; the
stage itself was on the edge of the
fearful precipice, a-d the axle of the
vehicle being dragged along over the
stone wall that supported the lower
side OF the roadbed.
The scream of horror piercing my
ears emphasized the frightful situa-
ton, for the driver was not only
being dashed to his death, as sup.
posed, in the darkness below, but
there was the awful possibility that
in the next moment the sta e aud the
horses would go over the brink aud
land in the dismal unknown abyss of
canyon beneath. The driver was
pulling, with all his weight, in the
direction of that abyss.
The half upset stage and the Wig
Orous jerks OF the frightened team in
front, brought additional horrors to
me; never heless, l determined to
make an effort to save my lite, if pos.
sible, in leap upward. So sprang
out of the stage in a desperate jump
from the higher side. reached the
ground In safety, but not a moment
too soon.
The stars were bright overhead,
and through an opening in the forests
trees around on either hand [ saw
the Headers" of the team making q
desperate effort to avo d being pulled
over the precipice, the lines stlll in
the grasp of the driver below, the
maui clinging to the ribbons with the
clutch of death; and the rough stone
edges of the lower wall of the road.
way having broken the speed, since
the axle had to be dragged forcibly
over the uneven surface. With swift
decision of mind saw what must be
uone to stav the tragedy, so jumped
to the front, seized the leader by the
bridle-rein and at once pulled his face
square to the upper bank. / thus
stopped the horses and kept the stage
still on the road.
But where was the driver? This
was the narrowing thought now on
my mind, for the mau's cries were
hushed. | cried aloud for him but
no answering voice came in reply, no
sound was heard except the echo
from the opposite wall OF the canyon
beyond and the frightful painting OF
the trembling horses now well In my
hands. Again and again l cried =
| louder and wilder and deeper in my
distress. But / heard 3othipg in re-
| Spouse save the hooking ecnOes and
the heaving sol nd of the restless
horses. 1t was the most terrible mo.
| ment of my liie-terrible beyond eX.
preston! Alone in the dismal Sierras
themselves the picture aud inspira-
ton of gloom!-alOne in the deafness
OF the night, with y frightened team
1 knew not how to manage, brok en-
stage out of it's pathway, and a sup
posed dead companion to find and
guard till help, or the morn, or the
grizzly bear should come. No per
can ever adequately portray. the sen
eations of q soul In such q crisis.
Again / cried, with q wall of mis-
cry and despair, 1 knew not how
long, how loud, nor to whom the
wailing note went; but my cry was
answered by low moan, the grosn o
q man seemingly in tho agonies OF
death. My driver was not yet dead
and so thankiulness again spraDg
iuto my soul.
1t was some consolation even tC
hear the sound of the mans agony
tor with it came the hope that the