San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-11
A JUMP FOR LIFE.
Story of a Perilous Ride With the
Empresss Of Austria.

Il
ness to an accident which befell the
Empress of Austria, and which was
so terrible that her escape from death
seems to be even now 8 miracle.
Elizabeth of Austria, as she liked
to call herself, was at that time not
only the most daring but also the
best rider In the world. No man or
woman ever knew better how to take
an obstacle than this most charming
of all crowned women. Though her
Majesty then already . grand
her, on horseback she could give
odds to the best Hungarian and
English riders. The party at the
event Of which I am writing consis-
ted of the Empress and q large mum.
Der of Austrian and foreign gentle
men riders, who seemed to have
gathered together from all parts of
Europe. Most of them were known
as prominent horsemen. This was
not surprising, considering that the
Empress would never take the field
in company OF poor riders. On this
occasion the Empress rode 8
yer spirited young horse which she
had obtained in Lancashire when on
n visit to England. and to the train
ing of which she had personally
attended for nearly year. Every
thing went well after the start, until
we crossed highway leading to q
small Hungarian country town 9
short distance off. Passing a white
painted milestone the Empress short
SHE'D, and suddenly becoming unco-
trollable, it dashed down the road in
the direction of the town. From
appearance it was evident that the
animal had succeeded in taking the
bit between his teeth; aud that no
earthly power could stop 1t on its
mad runaway. Although we all
followed the Empress, none of us
seemed to gain upon her. Flying we
pass ed through the little town, much
to the anazement and the terror Of
the few people on the street. A short
distance behond the town was q |
shipping canal, and to our horror, We |
saw that the draworidge spanning |
the canal was open, so as to permit |
the pa ssage Of some boat. In mo- |
ment we realized that the EmpIe IS |
wa running straight into the jaws of |
certain DEAN. Faster and faster We |
went in persuit, bat faster and faster |
also seemed the Empress horse to fly. |
Now it had reached the open bridge. |
Would it stop? Before We had time |
TO think we saw the animal dashing |
up the incline of the open bridge like |
fash OF lightning For moment
we could not but close our eyes, and |
q shudder convulsed every man in |
the calvacade. 1t was terrible |
luomens-a moment during which |
fear and horror alternately kept us
mercilessly in their pangs. When |
we opened our eyes again, still riding |
rs fast as our horses could go. the faiZ |
lider aud runaway disappeared.
We had no doubt that the newt |
able had happened; and that Eliza. |
beth of Austria was drowned in the
slow and turbid waters of the canal. |
The idea was q terrible one. My
pen Is too weak to describe the con-
fusion among us, and the agony of
suspense that followed, and seemed
to make each rider culver in his sad
die. Almost unconsciously we had
stopped our horses just before reach
ing the incline to the open draw.
AS q matter of fact, our excitement
was so great that we did not even
notice that one OF our number, Count
Szepany, if 1 remember well, was
also missing. All our faculties natur-
ally had fol owed the Empress only.
There we were, haltlng before that
terrible bridge ike pack of towards,
with nobody among US with pluck
enough to ride into death with an
Empress.
A few seconds later the inclines of
the bridge were lowered again, but
NOT ody of our company seemed to
even attempt to pass it.
. hn nf horror
we had passed into those of amaze
ment Several hundred yards be-
yond the bridge We beheld riding to-
wards us lady on fOaming steed.
1t was the Empress and at her side
the only gallant man of the crowd,
Count Szepany. Her Majesty firmly
sat her horse, and appeared as cool
and collected as if nothing had hap
pened.
Smilingly she made fun of US and
our anxiety. Her fine raIllery was
lust as much justified as it was in
offensive when she saw the pitiable
figure we cut in her eXhalted pre-
sence.
The Empress horse was very lame,
and closer examination showed that
it had dislocated his right hind feet
lock. In jumping the open draw,
between the wings Of the bridge, the
hind feet of the Empress horse had
caught one of the iron rails at the
edge and torn off one OF its hind
shoes. The most extraordinary feat
ure OF the accident was how the
horse ever could have gone down the
incline without breaking his own
and the riders neck. The only ex-
PLANTATION for this small miracle, how
ever, might be found in the fact that
the Empress never lost her presence of
mind when on horseback, and that
a nm oor FIR To- la