Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-06-25


on two wheels around narrow passes
in the mountains. Mrs Laurence c.
PAipps got her first taste of wild
Deadwood coach driving yesterday in
. record-breaking dash from EsJes
Park at Lyons TO catch the trair to
Denver.
The trip across the mountains was
made in two hours, which beats any
performance ever made by the stage
eyer the twenty-five miles of rugged
roads. Six horses We're used and the
rarty came through without a scratch.
The stage had several narrow es-
capes and three times while rounding
the winding road cf RoWell Hill, the
most dangerous part of the route, the
coach ratified peri!ously near embank-
ments on the edge Cn two wheels. On
" the skillful handling Of Elmer Bent
iy, the stage driver, and the grit dis
played by Mrs. Phipps saved the par
ty from a catastrophe.
Mrs. Phipps has been spending the
past few days looking over the Hugo
Miller ranch at Estes park, which she
expects to lease this summer.
All of the arrangements were ccm-
pleted yesterday morning. The nego-
tiat:ons consumed more time than
had been expected. The trip from
Estes Park 10 Lyons is usually made
in from three and o.ne-half to four
hours. Out of Difference fer this dis
tinguished visitor the stage was de-
layed yesterday morning until Mrs.
Phipps arrived at the stage station
from the Miller ranch, which IS five
miles distant.
1t was 9 o'clock when the fair visi-
ter reached the postoffice.
sWe'll have to hurry, ma am, blush
ingly announced Driver Bentley as he
climbed onto the box There are
only two hours to catch the train.
"Can we make it with four horses?'
asked Mrs. Ph.pps, enthused at the
prospects of a thrilling experience.
1--WE might with six" replied Bent
ley
put them on directed the society
leader. "This is going to be interest
ing. want to ride outside.
Bentley tried to persuade her that
it would be dangerous on top OF the
coach. He explained that lurch
might throw her off.
"Well, strap me on, was the
plucky response.
While an extra pair Of the swiftest
horses in the barn were put on as
leaders Mrs. Phipps securely fastened
a big pistol belt about her trim waist
and the driver lashed it to the rail
Of the seat.
Mrs. Phipps removed her Paris hat,
pinned a cowboys hat down over her
eyes, turned up the collar Of her coat,
put on pair of cow-punching gloves
and seized the drivers whip.
Go ahead she said and nodded
grimly to Bentley.
With her two tiny hands clasped
lightly about the whip she swung it
over the heads Of the horses. 1t
cracked in the ears of the leaders
With the ring of an expert. The
aorses leaped formard at a gallop
md the wild ride was on.
The road from Estes park to Lyons
'uns ever some of the widest coun-
ry in the state. In places there
ire high cliffs on one side with
drop to the river on the
,ther. The most dangerous part OF
he drive is the three mile stretch
,ver Rowell Hill. The road twists
lround the mountain side and de-
cends rapidly. From the summit, |
en- miles out of Lyons, the road is all |
lown steep hills.
The Phipps coach never stopped |
N instant The horses were kept on |
he gallop all the way
AS the stage began to rock and |,
urch Mrs. Phipps warmed to the ex-
itement She echoed the shouts OF !
,ently to the straining herses The |
rack of the whip was heard above the
umble Of the stage When a horse |
agged he was stirred to action again
y the lash.
On one of the sharp curves Beatly's
oct slipped from the brake. Instant
y the stage started down on the
geeI horses with the speed Ct run
way freight train.
1t veered on two wheels around +
he curve in the road like a cup de-
ender rounding the outer mark ii
ten.knot blow. The hind wheels t
kidded toward the embankment like
n automobile Rocks and dust flew