Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-11-26
NIGH UNTO
DEATH
BY ALvA r. HUNTINGTON

1t was at a time when the trans
mississippi country was developing, and
instead of the iron horse, with its train
dashing along at the rate of fifty miles
an hour, the stagecoach numbered at
the rate of five or six. One of these
coaches left Denver one morning,
struck the mountains at Golden City,
mounted to the highest point and NOV
ed on downward and upward alternate
ly toward Georgetown.
On the top of the coach a gentleman
and his family were enjoying the
scenery. The driver sat on his box
trying to keep awake, for he had been
drinking, while beside him sat young
man whose costume denoted that he
was resident of the region. The
coach reached the top of an ascent,
and the road In front wound downward
in one of those frequent dips In the
mountains. 1t had begun the descent,
and the young man sitting beside the
driver, noticing that he had failed to
put on the brake, looked aside at him
to see what it meant. The fellow was
asleep and had not only failed to
brake" but had let go his hold on
the relns, which were now down on the
pole.
A punch in the ribs awoke the driver,
who. seeing the relns dangling from
the pole and the coach rolling rapidly
down the crooked road, jumped from
his seat, preferring rather to be injur-
ed by fall on the stony road than to
be hurled over a precipice he knew to
be at turn farther down.
There were shrieks from the women
passengers, while the men were para
lyzed. But among the latter there was
one exception. The young man left
alone on the box let himself down on
the pole, gathered up the reins, climb
ed back on to the box and put on the
brake. The horses were by this time
so wild and the speed so great that It
was very difficult to control the one
and lessen the other. Not an eighth of
a mile distant was the turn in the
roed, with a gulf thousand feet deep
on one side. The cries and shrieks had
ceased with the effort thus far made
to regain control. and every eye was
fixed on the danger ahead, every breath
held In terror.
The man on the box kept firm hand
on the reins and pushed with all his
strength with his right foot on the
break. There was lessening of the
speed, but would it be reduced suffi-
ciently to go safely round the curve?
The hearts of those whose lives were
mt stake were throbbing in time with
the jumping Of the horses. When the
turn was reached the velocity was
still so great that there was little hope.
The women recommended to shrek.
stop THAR said the driver you'll
excite the horses"
The cries ceased. There was no
sound except what came from the
horses hoofs and the creaking of the
coach, while every one held with a
tight grip to his seat and looked with
straining eyes at the Ilf before him.
The driver guided the horses as near
the rock on the Inner side as he dared.
for should he hit it the coach would
be knocked over the precipice. Not
withstanding his effort so great was
its swing when it made the turn that
a hind wheel slid over a slope few
feet from the edge. The driver gave
a yell to the horses and threw the long
lash of his whip among them with a
wheel came back on level ground. and
the rest OF the turn was made In
safety.
The final effort caused the horses
to break forth again, and again they
must be brought under control. But
straight and soon the inclination began
to lessen In few minutes the bot
tom Of the dip was reached, and the
coach was brought to standstill.
Then the driver was infolded in the
arms OF those on the outside OF the
coach. both men and women.
An hour later the coach drove up to
the hotel at Idaho Springs and all
alighted. The gentleman who was
travelling with his wife and family took
the driver aside for a private inter-
view.
You have saved the lives of coach
load of persons" he said. Including
myself. my wife and family. Had 1t
not been for your coolness and courage
we would all have met with frightfui
death. What can | do for you? I'm
rich and my fortune is at your dis
posal."
"You owe me nothing. sir" said the
young man, with British accent.
my own life was in jeopardy. In
saving myself I saved the others"
"You could have left the coach as
the cowardly driver did"
To this the young man. made no
reply.
Come" resumed the gentleman;
"anything You ask that is in my power
to grant shall be granted"