Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-09-05

move and ordinarily a passenger is
entitled TO be shot for doing such
thing. 1t looked like a fight for a
moment Then Gilman and Dana
changed places so the former could
better watch the suspect 'It'did no
good. The horses were again on
the run.
Mr.. Dana who was ever on the
alert for the stage to go over was
sitting in the middle seat. The stage
gave lurch and he was pitched
fairly out. He jumped to save him
self and fell back under the wheels.
In the darkness he had jumped
against the bank and was rolled
backward. The horses were at a
walk at the time. The wheels came
up on Mr.. Dana's thigh and this
stopped the stage.
Mrs. Davis had become hysterical
and was weeping. To her entreaties
to let the horses walk the driver paid
no heed. After each accident the
passengers would get out and the
driver would plead for them to get
in again. The maledictions visited
upon the head of that driver were a
caution. 1t is great wonder the
stage did not go over the grade, and
several times this must have been
the result had not the driver been
going slow. When the passengers
had alighted for the third time Mrs.
Davis refused to get in again al
though the driver offered her the
lines. Then all walked down the
mountain.
1t was a rough road and one man
fell and almost broke his arm. 1t
was so dark that one almost ran into
the stage without seeing It, The
seat cushion and Mr.. Davis overcoat
dropped out and were not seen or
felt by the feet. Once when the
passengers went ahead to light the
road with matches they were crushed
between the bank and horses.
The company cannot afford Ian
tern and the driver said light made
why horses are blind during the day,
IL is the light from the sun. This
is probably the only stage line in the
west that does not provide lap robes
for the passengers.
Once down the mountain the
driver began to look for the way sta
ton. Not knowing the road he took
by road to the right and was head
ed toward Myrtle Point. He began
to wonder why he did not reach
Johnsons. He thought he recognized
some of the houses and concluded
that he had passed Johnsons in the
darkness.
The stage brought up suddenly
with fence across the path. 1t was
midnight. We knew we had lost
Johnsons but thought we were maxi
ing for Roseburg.
There was nothing to do but make
camp and find out where we were or
/ wait till morning. The last OF the
matches were used to build a fire.
The driver unhitched and mounted
one of the horses to seek help. He
went across country for a mile and
came to the house of Farmer Breid-
enbusher. Mr.. Breidenbusher came
back with the driver and guided the
party back to Johnsons.
In the meantime Mr.. Dana's leg
had become so swollen that he could
not take the stage. Mr.. Gilman vol
unteered to remain with him and
the two were left by the campfire. A
buggy was to be sent back to bring
them In.
1t was O'Clock In the morning
when the Johnsons was reached after
several close calls from going over
the grade. Two men had started
horseback over the mountains to
see what had become of the stage.
That was great breakfast at
Johnsons, venison, sliced tomatoes.
II was like a regular dinner and as
the passengers had had nothing
since noon the day before they did
the meal full justice.
Driver Hall brought the stage on
10 Roseburg and l took the train
without having heard how Mr.. Dana
Jared. 1t is hoped he is not serious
| lly injured