The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-08
AN EXCITING RIDE.
DESCENDING THE SIERRA NEVADA
MOUNTAINS AT NIGHT.
unmanagrabi- Horsss Dashlng Down the
Steep Siopa of tfe mountain at tho
Height OF their Speed

I
steep siops Of tfe Mountain MT tho
Height Of their speed
One night was crossing the Sierra
Nevada In II stage SAYS n writer in the
Detroit Free lress. | was the only
passenger aboard, aud hence had "A
lonely and ,lreary night Of il. The
long. slow pull of the ascent has con-
suned all of the fose part of the night
and much of the early morn.
II was about 2 2o'eloek when the sum-
nit was reached. all nnawares to eth
err myself or the driver in front-for
In the tediousness of the long climb
and the silence and solitariness of the
surroundings we had fallen fast asleep.
Suddenly there was sharp rolling
Of the wheels, n violent jostling OF the
seats. aud we both awoke to the terri
BILE consciousness that we were going
down the mountain at n most frightful
gait-a runaway team In front.
When the down grade had been
struck the driver-usually a careful
aud yigilant man-was so fast asleep
that brakes were not applied ms prompts
~ ns was necessary. and the horses.
iinding that they were not under con-
troll. with the heavy stage rushing up
on them, became Mt once frightened
When the driver first awoke and re-
allied the situation he was in midair.
having been violently thrown from his
seat. He had had the lines wrapped
around his hands aud wrists. and. hold
Ing fast uneonsciously. he was ierked
forward In the furious leaps of the
team.
Yet 1t was but a moment or two nm
til he struck the ragged ledge below
the roadway. and discovered my sit
uatien, as | heard him utter horrible
shrek and then low moan as one in
the ,leatli agony
By tlis time the lower wheels of the
stage were off the roadway; the stage
itself was on the edge of the fearful
precipice. and the axle OF the vehicle
being dragged along over the stone
wall that supported the lower side of
the ioadbed.
The scream of borrow piercing my
ears emphasized the frightful situation,
for the driver WAS not only dashed to
his de,th. as supposed in the dark
ness below. but there was the awful
possibility that in the next moment
the stage and horses would go over
the brink aud land in the dismal un-
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 yigor-
Gus jerks of the frightened team in
front brought additional horror to me;
nevertheless J determined to make an
effort TO save ny life, If possible in a
leap upward So | sprang out of the
stage in 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 ia the forest trees
around on either hand I saw the lead
ers' of the team making a desperate
effort TO avoid being pulled over the
precipice, the lines still in the grasp oi
tie driver below. the man etinging 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 SUR
face.
With n swift decision of mind | saw
what must be done To stay the tragedy,
so jumped to the front. seized the
leader by the bridle-rein. and at once
pulled his face square 10 the upper
bank. | thus stopped the horses and
kept the stage still on the road
But where was the driverP This
was the narrowing thought now OF
my mind. for the mans cries were
husfied. | cried aloud Tor him. but nc
answering voice came in reply; nc
sound was heard save the echo from
the opposite side of the canyon beyout
aud the lrightful painting of the trsm
bling horses now well in my hands.
Again and again cried-louder and
wilder and deeper in my distress, But
L heard nothing in response save
the mocking echoes aud the heaving
a - fEr IL
the most terrible moment of my life
terrible beyond expression.
Alone in the dismal Sierras -them-
selves the picture and inspiration of
gloomi-aloue in the dendness of the
night. with frightened team ! knew
not how to manage. a broken stage
out of its pathway. aud n supposed
dead companion to find and gnard till
help or the morn or the grizzly bear
should come. No pen eau ever portray
the sensations of a soul in such a crisis.
Again l cried with wall of misery
and despair. l knew not how long
how loud. nor 10 whom the waiting
note went, but my cry was answered
by low moan, the moan of man
seemingly in the agonies of death.
My driver was moi dead and SO thank
fulness sprang into my soul.
1t was some consolation even to hear
! the sound of the mau's agony. for with
it came the hope that the poor fellow,
after all. would survive.
Hope grew stronger. for the next
moment came another aud shll an
other groan, this time from n man
evidently with vital energy and u raj
lying struggle. Soon the driver crawl
ed. half dead, up the bank. but the
only thing he seemed to be thankful
| for aud 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 be-
| low.
In the darkness the first thing he
wanted seen was the manner in which
he had performed the fearful feat OF
holding the reinsi l. still trembling.
held the frightened horses against the
upper bank, doing all l could to quiet
the fears of the painting beasts.
By the aid of matches we soon had
| L 80 Al. II