The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-08-27
over A PREC|PICE
Climax to tie Reckless Ride of
a Fearless Horseman.
HIS WILD LEAP IN THE DARK.
u Carried Horse and Rider Past the
Edge Of Sheer Cliff to Fall Of Two
Hundred and Fifty Feet to the Rocks
and Water Below, Vet the Man Lived.


Hundred and Fifty Feet to the Rocks
and Water Below, Yet the Man Lived.
Perhaps the most extraordinary fall
that n human being ever survived Is
that described by Thormanby in his
sporting Stories" The lucky man
was Colonel william Yorke Moore a
British officer who rode his horse in
the dark over II sheer precipice PAT
feet in height and came out alive. 1t
seems Incredible that such a fearful
experience should result in anything
but instant death, yet here are the
facts, which once again confirm the
adage that truth is more wonderful
than fiction:
Colonel Moore. who commanded the
troops at Dominica, lost his way one
evening after sunset In complete
darkness he endeavorcd to make his
way home. Two or three times he
had difficulty I'm making his horse
cross obstacles. and ut last they came
to something that the horse would not
face.
Colonel Moore was a fearless rider.
Again and again he rode his horse at
full speed against the unknown obsta-
Gle, but In vain. At last. urged fierce.
" by whip and spur. the terrified ami
NAL. with snort of terror. cleared the
low hedge-for such the obstruction
proved to be-and went over the cliff.
Colonel Moore says that during his
fight ON horseback through the air
every event of his whole life seemed
to pass in luminous panorama be-
fore him. Suddenly there came Il ter
rifle conclusion. which deprived him
of his senses and left him with his
legs In the SEA and his body on the
rocks. apparently dead
He must have lain there stunned for
some hours. for when at last the lap
ping water and the cool breeZes rrStur-
ed him the moon was shining brightly
in midheaven. and its beams fell upon
the upturned. gittering shoes of his
gallant horse. which lay dead ana
| manglcd beside him.
AS soon ms he had collected his scat
tered wits Colonel Moore coolly began
to examine himself to ascertain what
injuries he had sustained. He found
that he was severely cut about the
body and head. that his right ankle
, was dislOcated and that his back WIS
/ benumbed or paralyzed by the cOncrs
, sion of his fall.
When the sun rose it shone upon his
/ bare. bleeding head with such intol
cradle heat that. rs Il protection from
its rays, he tied his cotton hanlacr-
chief about his forehead. Above his
head projected the two ends Of the
knotted bandage stained crimson with
his blood.
After lying In horrible pain for sew.
! cral hours he Spird II bOatful OF M
tivcs rowing toward the spot where he
lay As they came near he hailed
them In faint voice. but tine mo
meNt they SAW the CHASTITY figure Of
the colonel. with his bloody hcadtlreSs.
they set mp yell and rowed away us
II 2O.OW iiends were after them.
After some lime single black man
! came clambering over the rocks. in
tcut ou ttt'iiuS uSi' ne W us .tA.L
few yards yf the colonel wher he
after hailed hi.l. The moment the &C.
gro caught sight OF The bleeding head
and the blood stained bandage he, too.
uttered fearful yell. flung down his
rod and line and scrambled on oTcy
the rocks MS fast as his feet and hands
would carry him. 49,
The colonel now began To resign him.
self to the prospect of lingering
death. but fortunately his English
servant, alarmed at his masters alb
scnce. went In search Of him and. fol-
lowing the horses tracks. Mt last came
TO the edge OF the prc"ipicc.
The sudden disappearance Of the
hoof prints near the low hedge fence
convinced him that an accident had
happened. He ran to the barracks and
got out boat. which n party OF sol
Hers rOwed to the foot OF the cliff.
Very tenderly and carefully the sol.
dlers. lifted the colonel into the boat
and brought him back to the barracks.
For some months he lay IN great pain
and danger but In time the paralyzed
muscles OF his back recovered. and
eventually he was restored 10 complete
health. Not even the slightest touch
Of lameness remained to remind him
OF his fall.
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