The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-08-14
A THRILLING RIDE.

| IL was III the smoking rOOm OF
hotel that four commercial travellers
recently sat in a circle and ex.
changed stories. One Of them was
swarthy, keen eyed westerner Of
some 40 years of age A story had
just been finished when the dark
haired man knocked the ashes off
his cigar and remarked, II guess it's
my turn next, boys" -.
Eyes, go ahead, jack said his
three companions.
WELL" commenced Jack, fitting
himself back in his chair, with a
thoughtful expression, lin 1880 !
was in Denver and had to visit
Leadville on business. In those days
there were two ways of reaching the
latter place-one was to take the
railroad to Buena Vista and the
stage up the Arkansas river, the
other was the stage from Denver
across the mountains. had always
gone to Leadville by the river route,
and on this occasion, for the sake
of variety, resolved to take the all
stage road.
1--WE started at daylight in coach
of the old Concord pattern that was
almost as large as a Noah's ark
The vehicle was swung on leathern
hinges so arranged that it was capa-
BILE of every conceivable form of
motion. It would lurch, pitch, roll
like ship in the trough Of the sea
It would rear, kick and buck like a
mustang and had the solid jolt of
dromedary.
Like all the other coaches used
for carrying passengers over the
mountains, it had mechanical at
tachment within easy reach of the
driver by which he could in an in
slant detach the horses from the
coach. It was to be used to save the
horses in case the vehicle toppled
over precipice.
There were three seats inside,
each of which had three people, who
were SO closely packed together
that in case of an overturn there
was no extrication, but all must 60
over as one. There were two seats
on top of the coach besides the driv-
er's, all of which were filled, max
ing a total of Is persons, including
the man who held the reins over the
four horse team In the front seat
was an Englishman and a young
woman, he an agent of some Eng:
lish capitalists sent to inspect some
mines, and she an actress, as after
ward learned, going to Leadville to
join some theatrical starring COM
pany.
1.-THE driver, who is always the
most important feature of the out
fit, was a mere boy in appearance.
He was rather slender, very blond
as to hair and smoothly shaved save
as to mustache, milky in it's white
ness. He wore an immense SON.
brero, and his hair was SO long that
the ends lay on his shoulder.
II studied him with curiosity and
mingled anxiety. He seemed to me
to be very young for the responsible
duty of holding the ribbons over
four horses on a route that is re-
garded as one of the most difficult
and dangerous in the Rockies.
II ascertained that this was his
second trip on this line, and that be-
fore coming here he had been driv
ing in the San Luis valley. This
was not in his favor, as the valley is
almost dead level and affords no
training for mountain driving
HE was very reticent, unlike the
average driver, and hence the pas
sengers did not cotton to him. We
tried to establish social relations
with him, but he would only reply
in surly monosyllables. He spoke
only once, to the extent of one or
two words. We were passing a
shanty on bit of tableland, beside
which stood a dog regarding us
with friendly glance and exhibit
inc his satisfaction bY WagQing his