Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-04-10
TERROR ON THE SIERRA.
DOWN A MOUNTAIN TRACK BE-
HIND A RUNAWAY TEAM.
A Thrilling Tale Of Old stage Days I'm the
Big Mountains-A Dozen Hair
breadth Escapes-A Broken
Wheel at Last.

passenger aboard, and hence had
lonely and dreary night of it. The
long slow pull OF the ascent had con-
sumed all Of the forepart OF the night
and much OF the early morn. 1t was
about o'clock when the summit was
reached, all unawares TO either myself
or the driver in front-for in the tedi-
BUSINESS OF the long climb, and the
silence and solitariness o. the sur
rounding. we had fallen asleep.
Suddenly there was sharp rolling
Of the wheels, violent jostling of the
seats and we both awoke TO the con-
seriousness that we were going down
the mountain at most frightful gait
"a runaway team in front.
When the down grade had been
struck, the driver-usually careful
and vigilant man--was so fast asleep
that brakes were not applied as prompt
ly as was necessary; and the horses,
finding that they were not under con-
troll, with the heavy stage rushing
upon them became at once frightened
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 hold
ing fast unconsciously he was being
jerked forward in the furious leaps of
the team. Yet il was but moment or
two until he struck the ragged ledge
below the railway, and discovered my
situation as heard him utter a horrible
shrek, and then low moan as OF one
in the death agony.
By that time the lower wheels OF the
stage We're off the roadway; the stage
itself was on the edge Of the fearful
Irecipice and the axle OF the vehicle
being dragged along over the stone
wall that supported the lower side OF
the road-bed.
The scream OF horror piercing my
ears emphasized the frightful situation,
for the driver was not only being
dashed TO death, as | supposed, in the
darkness below, but there was the aw-
ful possibility that in the next moment
the stage and the horses would 90 over
the brink and land in the dismal IN
known abyss of canyon beneath. The
driver was pulling with all his weight
in the direction of that abyss.
The half-upset stage and the vigor-
Gus jerks of the frightened team in
front brought additional horrors TO me.
Nevertheless | determined to make an
effort to save my life, il possible in a
leap upward. So sprang out OF the
stage in a desperate Jump from the
higher side. i reached the ground in
safety, but not a moment too soon.
The stars We're bright overhead and
through an opening in the forest trees
around on either hand, i saw the dead
ers" OF the team making n desperate eff
fort TO avoid being pulled over the
precipice, the lines still in the hands
Of the driver below, the man clinging
to the ribbons with the clutch of death
and the rough stone edges of the lower
wall of the roadway 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 done TO stay the tragedy,
SO / jumped to the front, seized the
leader by the bride rein. and at once
pulled his face square to the upper
bank. | thus stopped the horses and
kept the stage on the road.
But where was the driver? This was
the narrowing thought now in my mind.
for the mans cries were hushed. |
cried aloud for him, but no answering
voice came in reply, no sound was heard
save 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 |
cried-louder and wider and deeper in
ny distress. But | heard nothing in
response save the hooking echoes and
the heaving sound of the restless horses.
1t wac The most terrible moment OF my
life-tct'cible beyond expression.
Hope grew stronger, for the next
moment came another and still another
groan, this time from a man evidently
with vital energy and rallying strug-
gle. Soon the driver crawled, half
dead, up the bank, but the only thing
he seemed TO be thankful for, and the
only fact he appeared to appreciate,
was his courage in holding on to the
lines while he was being dashed and
dragged on the rocks below! In the
darkness the first thing he wanted seen
was the manner in which he had per-
for:aed the fearful feat of-holding the
reias! j, 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 a
good light, and the situation was fully
revealed. The poor driver was fright
fully mangled and torn, one ear being
we'll nigh severed from the head as he
struck the sharp edge of the rocks be-
low
tied up the man as best i could. we
mended the broken stage and got it
back into the road, and then came tho
slow and cautious and painful descent