The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-09-05

top, the horses gllloping wildly, spring
ing wildly now and then to cut from
the shouting drivers whip, while, abso-
lutely sick with terror, | had not
strength to leap into the road, as l
made up my mind to do time andagain.
I would undoubtedly have been killed
at the rate at which we were going,
and it was the bare shred Of hope,
which they say never wholly leaves
us, that kept me from springing out.
Part of the time l crouched on the
floor, hiding my face in the cushions;
but, fascinated by the terrible scene
outside, could not refrain from look
Ing out upon it again and again. On
one side rose perpendicular wall of
rock as bare as my hand. On the 9th
er and barely five feet from where /
looked out were the canyon and GER
tain death.
The stage Swayed fearfully, and
every time the whip cut into the horses
they would swing it to the veW verge
of the precipice, whe.s 1 could look
down the wall and see the rivers
cleam, when I would throw myself
against the opposite side of the vehicle.
Once the hind wheels literally hung
over the edge for the thousandth part
of second, though it seemed an eter-
nifty to me, but were jerked on to the
road again just as I felt the stage drag
back into the chasm.
II remember screaming like a fright
ened child and standing up in the
stage laughing horribly when I saw
the wheels back in the road. l doubt
if the mailman on the box was further
off his balance than I at that moment.
He was standing up, though how he
could have retained his footing was
marvel to me, and yelling with delight,
occasionally breaking out into
laughter.
I'VE had covered nearly five miles
when the road widened several feet,
and all at once [ saw as we tore by the
faces of a group of men drawn to one
side TO let us pass. l shrieked to them
in a wild cry for help, but as our speed
was undiminished made up my mind
the noise we made had kept them from
hearing me or that it was impossible
for them to Overtake us. But even as
despaired l heard a hoarse cry and,
looking out, saw my lunatics body
hurled from his seat into the road and
the next minute felt the horses check
ed and finally stopped. The door Of the
stage was flung open and bearded
face thrust in, when I threw myself
into pair of strong arms and knew no
more.
when / came to, 1 heard voice
say: Give the chap mother swallow o.
the stuff, Jim. He's comm to- Some
fiery liquor trickled down my throat,
and, opening my eyes, gasping, found
myself surrounded by a crowd Of
roughly dressed men, but, they, to my
eyes, had the appearance of angels.
They were miners, who, judging from
the drivers actions, had guessed some
thing of the truth and, hearing my cry
for help, had stopped the stage. This
was accomplished by two of them
catching hold Of and climbing up over
the boot behind and over the top and
thus reaching the seat, from which
they knocked the mailman and secured
the lines.
"On examination the lunatic was
found to be only stunned, when we
bound him securely and took him back
to. Virginia City, where he was identi-
fipd aS prOSpprouS merchant from
Carson City who had recently lost his
mind through grief over the death of
his wife. | joined my rescuers in their
search for gold. and in six months we
had struck it rich. when. selling out my
share for $50.000 / returned to Phila-
delphia. having had enough of the west
and it's adventures"