Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-09-05
THERE WAS NOT
A DULL MINUTE
ON THE TRIP
From Coos Bay to Roseburg- C.M.Sain
Goes Into DrydOCk at Portland and
Writes ofa. Night of Disaster, Darkness
and Wreck
a-z -

Mr.. Dana occupied the seat with
the driver. The Davises and Mr..
Gilman had the second seat and Mr..
Koltes and the writer the back seat.
1t is 20 miles from Marshfleld to
Roseburg and 5S from Sumner.
This So miles is divided into four
relays, changes being made at Dora,
Lairds and Johnsons.
The first relay is over a series of
ridges, the road being planked most
of the way. In the valley along the
route are the postoffices of Sumner,
Fairview, Mckinley and Dora.
Mark Defreese is the driver on this
first section. The writer has seen
many stage drivers but never a bet
ter one than Mark Defreese. The
way he handles the reins COM
mands the admiration of everyone.
He is an artist. The way he goes
down the mountain with his four
horses on the dead run makes one
hold his breath. but Mark knows
when to put on the brake and there
is no danger. How fast this is you
can judge from the fact that the
stage has to average about five miles
an hour and it is half way up hill
when the horses must walk. 1t is
safe to say that If the ribbons had
been in Mark Defreese's hands all
the way there would have been nc
accident and no complaint from the
passengers.
Mark turns back at Dora for the
home run.
Dora is the dinner station, and @
finer meal one could not wish on 8
stage trip.
1t was before reaching Dora that
the cause of the trouble was laid
About a mile the west side of McKin'
ley / looked down in the stage and
missed my maps. Further investiga
ton on my part revealed the fact
that two big trunks that had started
in company with us at our backs OF
a level with our heads were gone.
raised the alarm. We went back 6
mile and picked up the maps, the
U. S. mail and the trunks. But
Mark readjusted the trunks. The
cotton string with which they were
fastened were gone and there wa:
no wire. Wire costs too much FOL
the stage company to afford to carry
any along for use in case of emer
gency.
So Mark had to put one of the
trunks under the back seat, prevent
ing compression of the springs and
making 1t like riding on dead axle
II was too much for Mr.. Koltes anC
he deserted to the drivers seat.
stayed with it, flattered by the praise
Mark gave me for my powers of en-
durance. Mark and l have cam
paigned together before.
1t was that last three miles into
Dora that started my seasickness
| was like a bone in a dice box anC
Just as helpless. 1t was then tha
my watch was jolted out OF m!
pocket and by the sheerest good lucl
| | recovered it. But / should b'
thankful for when Mr.. Ball came ou
week or two ago they jolted mar
clear out of the wagon and then raI
the wheels of the wagon over him
Marks was making up time lost go
ing back after the trunks and / was
paying for 1t.
1t seems remarkable that those
trunks could have escaped without
being seen, or without their absence
being soon detected. but every one
was so busy holding on with both
hands that he could think of nothing
else. And when they fell TO earth II
was perhaps considered the ordinary
jolt and the extra noise was not OBJ
served.
At Dora we took on Driver Hall
and 1t was he before the night was
over the passengers were ready to
swing at the end of rope.
may seem to be deserting my com
panions when say that took nc
ma ri In thia exframa measure.