The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-10
TERROR ON THE SIERRA.


Down Mountain Track Behind a Run
away Team.
One night was crossing the Sierra Ne
yadas in stage. l was the only passenger
aboard, and hence had lonely and dreary
night OF it. The long. slow pull Of the as
cent had consumed all Of the forepart OF the
night and much Of the early morn. 1t was
about 2 o'clock when the summit was
reached, says a writer in the Detroit Free
Press, all unawares to either myself or the
driver in the front-for in the tediousness
of the long climb, and the silence and soli-
tariness of the surrounding, we had fallen
fast asleep.
Suddenly there was sharp rolling Of the
wheels, violent joStling of the seats and
we both aw0ke to the consciousness that We
were going down the mountain at a most
frightful gait-a 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 tinding that they were not
under control, 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 midalr, having been
violently thrown from his seat. He had
had the lines wrapped about his hands and
wrists, and holding fast, uncoascously he
was being jerked forward in the furious
| leaps of the team. Yet it was but moment
| or two until ne struck the ragged ledge be-
low the roadway, and l discovered my sltu-
alton as | heard him utter horrible shrek.
and then low moan as OF 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 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 his
| death, rs | supposed, in the darkness below,
| but there was the awful possibility that in
the next moment the stage aud the horses
! would go over the brink and land in the
! dismal unknown abyss of canyon beneath.
| The driver was pulling with all hls weight
in the direction of that abyss determined
to make an effort to save my life, II posi-
bic, in a leap upward. So lsDrang out of the
stage in a desperate jump from the higher
side. | reached the ground in safety, but
not moment to- soon.
The stars were bright overhead and
through an opening in the forest trees
around on either hand, | saw the LEADERS"
Of the team making desperate effort to
avoid being pulled over the preeipice the
lines still in the hands of the driver below,
the man clnging 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 l
jumped to the front, seized the leader by the
Dridle 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. Again and again
l cried-louder and wilder and deeper in my
distress. But l heard nothing in response
save the mocking echoes and the heaving
sound of the restless horses. 1t was the
most terrible moment of my life-terrible
beyond expression.
Hope grew stronger, for the next moment
came another and still another grOan, this
time from man evidently with vital energy
and a rallying struggle. Soon the driver
crdwled, 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 about on
the rocks below! In the darkness the first
thing he wanted seen was the manner in
which he had performed the fearful feat of
holding the reins l, still trembling, held
the frightened horses against the upper
bank doing all that / could to quiet the
fears of the painting beasts.
BY the aid of matches we soon had good
light, and the situation was fully revealed.
The poor driver was frightfuly mangled
and torn, one ear being well nigh severed
from the head rs he struck the sharp edge OF
the rocks below.
| tied up the man as best could, we
mended the broken stage and got it back
into The road, and then came the slow and
cautious and painful descent to the next sta
tiOn at the foot of the range.