The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-10
A THRILLING RIDE.

It was in the smoking room of a
hotel that four commercial travellers
recently sat in q circle and ex.
changed stories. One of them was
a 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, 'in 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. I had always
gone to Leadviile 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 ina coach
of the old Concord pattern that was
almost as large as a Noah's AK.
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 a
dromedary.
Like all the other coaches used
for carrying passengers over the
mountains, it had a 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 a 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 go
over as one. There were two seats
on top of the coach besides the driv-
er's, all Of which were filled, max
ing total of 1S persons, including
the man who held the reins over the
four horse team. In the front seat
was an Englishman and young
woman, he an agent Of some Eng
ish capitalists sent to inspect some
mines, and she an actress, as after
ward learned. going to Leadville to
join some theatrical starring COM
pany.
"The driver, who is always the
most important feature of the out
ft, was a mere boy in appearance
He was rather slender, very blond
as tohair and smoothly shaved save
as to mustache, milky in its white
ness. He wore an immense SOM
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 route that is re-
garded as one of the most difficult
and dangerous in the Rockies.
"I 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 a bit Of tableland, beside
which stood a dog regarding us
with friendly glance and exhibit
ing his satisfaction by wagging his
tail. Suddenly from the seat behind
me voice was heard
Say. driver. will your horses
scaref'
1.-THE driver as well as the rest
looked around and saw young man
holding out revolver pointed in
the direction of the dog.
Put up that gun, you fooll
roared the blond driver. What do
you want to fire at the dog fori
What harm has he done youi'
1.-THE young man, very much
abashed, muttered something about
only wanting to have a little fun
and scare the brute, and sheepishly
returned the pistol to his pocket
The little incident had the effect to
raise the driver in my estimation,