The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-26
placed in the coach and made as COM
Portable as possible.

VI suDic Us poSoioiet =.
At the Cold Spring House, six miles
from. town, DIN pulled up to water
his horses, winding the ribbons
around the brake before leaving the
box.
A dog ran q drove of hogs under
the horses feet, and in fash the
spirited animals were tearing down
the ridge.
Some one at Nevada City happened
to be scanning the road through q
feldgiass. and suddenly shouted, "Ihe
stage is coming an DIN amt on the
box"
The news spread through the town
like wildfre, and in an incredibly short
time the whole town turned out and
all who had fieldglasses were anxious
" watching the swaying stage IN It's
mad career along the ridge toward the
steep grade leading into town. 1t was
still some four miles distant.
The excitement was intense. Every
one knew that Mathewson, helpless
and weak, lay inside, at the mercy OF
the four blooded animals. The wheel.
ers especially we're splendid pair OF
mettlesome stations, and the leaders
carefully selected. Nopower on earth
could have stopped them on that
ridge. Down the grade they plunged.
The speed was terrific. Strong men
turned away in horror. expecting
from moment to moment that the
stage would go crashing into the
canyon below.
Half the distance toward town had
been accomplished in safety when q
hoarse cry broke from the Watching
multitude. 'sThe stump the bowider
Three miles from town the stage road
led between q stump on the lower side
and bowlder on the upper size OF
the grade.
With long plunging strides the AMI
mails approached this danger point.
The crowd was too Mortified to
shout. Only q stiAed groan, more
eloquent than words could have been
heard.
"a few rods more and God help
poor Mathewson," reverently MUIR
INJURED a grizzled miner, as the tears
flowed down his wrinkled face. Many
hard looking bat tender-hearted man
around him murmured, "Amen." !.
Gaining increased momentum as
| every bound, the stage ran INTO q
cloud of dust Just before reaching the
stump and bowlder. Awed, pallid,
upturned faces gazed with fascinated
intentness at that little cloud OF dust.
They've done it, whispered o man
| in front, with eyes still glued to his
glass.
With only fourteen inches to spare
on either side of the stage 1t MAD
passed through it safely. But the
danger was not yet over. The steep
est and toughest part OF the road was
yet to come.
As the stage reached town the people
gave way on either side, none dream.
ing of trying to stop the foam'coveree
stations in their wild run. -, !,
Along Coyote street they whlried
| then making hat-iron turn entered
Main still on they dashed, wheeling
into Commercial, then up into PIN
and still at full speed to Broad, head
ing for the destination of the stage II
front of the National or Person
Hotel. in the middle of the block.
| Arthur Hagadorn, the owner OF tn
sta line, was standing. pale with ex
element, close to where the stag
usually refined in. None can ever kno'
how it came about, but at the sight o
the familiar figure the four intelilgen
animals slowed up and came to Q sto
within a foot of where they woul
have been driven had Olin been on th
box.
Stepping up to the lead horse, Hsg.
dorm stroked bis wet neck and said
"Noble fellow, you've done your lAi
days work"
Mathewson was unhurt and feebl.
thanked friends aud acquaintance
who crowded around the stage to COZ
graduate him on his miraculous 81
cape. .,
Such is the record Of one Ut tn
widest stage rides ever taken by maj
A Vessel Collides With q Whale.
The schooner Etna put into the Dell
ware Breakwater recently, leaking,
! a result of q most remarkable acciden
\ having run across o monster sperl
I whale off Cape Hatteras. The vess
, was bound from Jacksonville, Fla,
8 New York, with q cargo OF lumbe
t She was beating up the coast at
e lively speed, and when off Hatter'
q was suddenly stopped with q shoe
Q that sent all hands staggering abo'
: the deck, and subse luently caused Il
t schooner to roll violently.
: None of the crew knew at first VIII
the big submerged object was Wi
. which the Etna had collided. and CO
q starvation reigned for a time. Ca
t tain Craft and his men investigate
u with the keenest possible interest, #
!. they knew the vessel was N very de-
. water, and couldn't conceive what o
d iect under the surface of the sea cou
IS have caused shock SO severe. The
;. was no grating OF the keel, IS thel
d would have been had the vessel stru'
bottom or run across submerg
/ derelict, but within minute after t
II collision had occurred the cause
the mysterious trouble was made mai
y fest.
# Peering over the side OF the vess
D. the Captain and crew saw big sPe,