The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-10-09
NIGH UN O
DEATH
By ALNA r. HUNTINGTON

daShing along at the rate OF ntty miles
an hour. the stageconch numbered at
the rate of five or six. one. of these
coaches left Denver II morning,
struck the mountains at Colder 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
enc The driver sat on his box
trying to keep awake. for be had beer
drinking. while beside him sat Il young
man whose costume denoted that be
was a resident OF the region. The
coach reached the top Of an ascent,
and the road in front wound downward
i'll 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 10
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 reinS. which were now down on the
pole.
4 punch in the ribs awoke the driver,
who. seeing the reinS dangling from
the pole and the coach rolling rapidly
down the crooked road. jumped from
his seat, preferring rather to be injur-
ed by a fall on the stony rOn than to
be hurled over "A precipice he knew TO
be at a 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
cd back on TO the box and put on the
brake. The horses were by this time
so wild and the speed so great that 1t
was very difficult to control the one
ana lessen the other. Not an eighth OF
ii mile distant was the turn in the
road. with a gulf a thousand feet deep
on one side. The cries and shrieks had
ceased with the effort thus far made
10 regain control. and every eye was
fixed on the danger ahead, every breath
held in terror.
The man on the box kept a firm hand
on the reins and pushed with all his
strength with his right foot on the
break. There vas a lesSening of the
speed but would it be reduced Suiii-
GENTLY to go safely round the curve?
The hearts OF those whose lives were
at 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 that.' sNid the driver. You'll
excite the horses"
The cries ceased. There was no
sound except what came from the
horses boots and the creaking Of the
coach. while every one held with a
tight grip to his seat and looked with
etraining eyes mt the gulf before him.
The driver guided the horses as near
The rock on the inner side as he dared.
FOR should he hit 1t the coach would
be knocked over the precipice. Not
w~ithstanding bis effort so great was
IFS swing when ii made the turn that
n hind wheel slid over a slope a few
feet from the edge. The driver gave
a yell to the horses and threw the long
lash of his whip among them with q
crack. Every animal gave a jump. the
wheel came back on level ground, and
the rest Of the turn was made In
safety.
The final effort caused the horses
10 hrooi, fnrtb nrnin an1 auaip thny
must be brought under control. But
now the road was comparatively
straight and soon the inclination began
to lessen. In a few minutes the bot
tom OF the dip vas reached. and the
coach was brought to a standStill
Then the driver was infolded in the
arms of those on the outside Of the
coach. both men and
An hour later the coach drove up tC
the hotel at Idaho Springs and al
alighted. The gentleman who was
travelling with his wife and family took
the driver aside for n private inter
view.
You have saved the lives of a coach
load Of persons he said. Including
mySelI. my Wlle ana 1amlIS. ftau ii
t not been for your GOODNESS and courage
we would all have met with a frightfu'
death. What can I do for you? I'm
| rich and my fortune is at your dis
| posal."
You me nothing. sir" said the
young man, with n British accent
! MY own life was in jeopardy. II
4 saving myself | saved the others"
You could have left the coach a:
I the cowardly driver did"
t To this the young man made nC
1 reply.
Come" resumed the gentleman
r anything you ask that is in my power
to grant shall be granted
' The young man hesitated. then said
81 don't belong here; ] came from
England. You know the younger son.
in England must shift for themselves
I came to this country. where | am no
r known. and car turn my hand to any
thing. Being fond Of horses. ! drove
q stage. | have left that and am goin,
up to Georgetown to start on a pros
pecting tour"