Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1901-10-04

the truth. and l can tell you | felt the
Icy sweat break over me, but | climbed
meekly into the coach and watched the
madman mount to my seat. could on
ly hope that he would still retain wit
enough to drive slowly. but the first
thing he did was to bring the lash down
upon the horses with yiciousness that
made them start into frenzied run,
and then the maddest. most terrible
Journey q man ever undertook began.
'"The stage spun along like crazy
.op, the horses galloping wildly. spring
Ing wildly now and then to cut from
the shouting drivers whip while, abso-
lutely sick with terror, | had not
strength 10 leap into the road. as
made Up my mind 10 do time and again.
would undoubtedly have been killed
at the rate at which we were going.
and 1t was the bare shred of hope,
which they say never wholly leaves
US. that kept me from sprnging out.
Part of the time | 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 Il perpendiosllar 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 fearfnlly. and
every time the whip cut into the horses
they would swing 1t to the very verge
of the preepice. when | could look
down the wall and see the rivers
CLEAN. when | would throw myself
against the opposite side of the vehicle.
once the hind wheels literally hung
over the edge for tile thousandth part
of second. though it seemed an eter
nifty to me. but We're jerked on To the
road again just as | felt the stage drag
| back into the chasln.
IL remember screaming like fright
ened child and standing up in the
stage laughing horribly when | saw
the wheels back in the road. | doubt
II the madman on the box was further
off his balance than | at that moment.
| lie was standing up, though how he
could have retained his footing was a
marvel to me. and yelling with delight.
occasionally breaking out into
screaming song. varied by bursts of
laughter.
I'VE had covered nearly five miles
when the road widened several feet,
ana all at once | saw as we tore by the
faces OF n group of men drawn to one
side TO let US pass. | 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 10 overtake us. But even as
| despaired heard hoarse cry and.
| looking out, saw my lunaties body
| hurled from his seat into the road and
the next minute felt the horses check
ed and finally stopped. The doer of the
stage was hung open ana bearded
| face thrust in. when threw myself
into pair of strong arms and knew no
more.
when | came to, | 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 madman and secured
the lines.
ION 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
fed as prosperous 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 ii rich. when. selling cut my
share for $4,000. | returned TO rhila-
delphia. having had enough of the west
and Its adventures"
An Interesting Old Watch.