The sun., 1896-07-13
M41HEHsoN's WILD RIDE.
Lying Helpless Inside the Coach while the
Team Dashed Down the Mountnin Side.

Team Dashed Down the Mountain Side.
Fror, tn, Overland Monthly
In May. 1857. John Mathewson. pioneer In
hydraulic mining. to whom belongs the credit
of building the first water derrick in Califor-
mia. had both legs broken while erecting der
rick at Washington, on tho north fork OF tho
Yuba River twenty-five miles north OF Nevada
City. He was taken out from the ruins of his
derrick and word sent to Nevada City for an
ambulance.
o. s. Olin was the driver of the daily stage be-
tween Washington and Nevada City. and he at
once placed a bed in q Concord coach and drove
over from Nevada City. Next morning the in
jured man was tenderly placed in the coach and
made as comfortable as possible.
At the Cold Spring House, six miles from
town. Olin pulled up TO water his horses. wind
ink the ribbons around the brake before leaving
the box.
A dog ran drove of hogs under the horses
feet, and in . fash the spirited animals were
tearing down the ridge.
Some one at Nevada City happened 10 be
scanning the road through q field glass and
suddenly shouted: The stage is coming hell
bent for lection and Olin amt on the box"
The news spread through the town like wild
fire, AMI in incredibly short time the whole
town turned out, and all who had field glasses
were an Iiousy 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
nerey Of the fasr boodsd anms Thc
wheelers especially were eplendtd pair of
melt!esone stations. and the leaders carefully
them on that ridge. Down the grade they
plunged. The speed was terrific. Strong men
that he Woud orsshaa
Half the distance toward town had been ac-
compshed In safety when q hoarse cry broke
from the watching multitude. The stump!
the boulder" Three miles from town the stage
road led between . stump on the lower side and
6oulder on the upper side of the grade.
WITH long. plunging strides the animals ap-
The crowd was o too tDerrified Diifid to shout Only a
esnsd groan. more eloquent than words, could
a few rods more and God help poor Mathew
the tears flowed down his wrinkled face. Many
e. hard looking but tender-hearted man around
Gaining increased momentum at every bound,
.he stage ran into cloud OF dust Just before
reaching the stump and boulder. Awed, pallid,
epturneq faces Eazed with fascinated intent
s:sS Sst at that little cloud of dust;
,iheyve done 1t" whispered man In front,
WITH eyes still glued TO his glass.
WIN only fourteen inches to spare on either
1e a, , OF The stage 1t passed through IL safely;
but the anger was not yet over The steepest
ana toughest part OF the road was yet to come.
As the stage reached town the people gave
way on either side, none dreaming OF trying 70
run.
Along Coyote street they whirled. then max
hRA rat-lron turn entered Main; still on they
SSashed' wheeling into Commercial. then up into
Ilhe ahd still at full speed to Broad. heading
gt the destination of the stage in front OF the
tAlnha! or Persons hotel. in the middle OF the
Arthur Hagadorn the owner of tho stage line,
- standing, pale with excitement, close 10
Mhere the stage usually refined In. None can
eset Know how 1t came about. but at the sight
tle familiar figure tho four intelligent ami
80, 80 rio"en up and came to a stop within Ioot
Oesn IN the box.
,,stepginR up to the lead horse, Hagadoru
Ss'UAeH MS wet neck and said: Noble fellow,
~ We Hone your last days work"
S,tiaLuewson WAS unhurt and feebly thanked
tbe.ua and acquaintances who crowded around
escape s"'N'1'' N''4 va A'S "
lSsuch Is the record OF one of the widest stage
HIts eyer taken by man
,,sIi une Of the wheelers on this stage was the
ts.lnh y Clair, the sire of Senator Stan ford
ths,o thous occident II is not generally known
ersSi,t tas ate Senator deserves much OF tho
prors.i " "sip'ng 10 perfect tho instantaneous
o. IN Photography
,nUgt,aeht was said to have the finest action o;
."Iter - his day. and Stanford spent two
IN nh,smnu enu SppOUO hrfore he finally succeeded
An na'nihg satisfactory photograph OF Occl-
l process ~ iieAhS VI INC i"s'A"'"'ON'