Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-01-19

Garrett supposed the passenger on
the seat with him knew little about
horses, so he handed him the lines and
got off to fasten up the loose trunk
He had just reached the back Of the
coach when the horses started to run.
The outside passenger threw the lines
and jumped. The passenger inside,
realizing he was mixed UP in a rum
away, opened the door and piled out In
to the snow.
1.-THE storm was heavy and the wind
was blowing hard. The coach was soon
lost to sight. Garrett and his astonish-
ed passengers started on down the
stage road, hoping the team would be
located after 1t had had its run. The
trail was soon lost So Ed, who was q
tall, IanlSy fellow with space-eating
stride, hit out ahead of his two COM
panions to walk the rest Of the distance
to our station at the Eight-Mile
Springs. He got in about one o'clock in
the afternoon. AS was usually the
trouble man when anything went
wrong, he asked me to 80 back and help
find the runaway stage.
"After Ed had lunch, he, Billy Fox
and I started out with q team and
blackboard, passing the two passen-
gers on the way, still walking toward
Fort Benton. They were elderly men,
and were not making very fast time.
"At Huntley Coulee, where the run
away had started, figured the horses
would turn down into the brakes along
the main road. When we finally To-
Gated the coach at the head Of coulee, |
the lead horses were down and the
coach had turned over and lay on them
in such a way that the horses couldn't
get up.
1--WE put a rope over the coach and
righted it, and got the horses all on
their feet. Strange to say, none OF
them was hurt The only damage was
two broken lamps on the coach.
I'VE were soon ready to start back.
[ got on the drivers seat with Garrett,
and Fox took the blackboard. We soon
had to cross the head Of q coulee. I
sold Garrett the place he had picked
didn't look good and we had better not
ny to cross there. BE went on. AS
aad feared, there was deep washout at
he bottom. The leaders plunged In,
sinking about four feet into the. drift
ID mow, and as they plunged out and
up the other bank, they 1erked the
soach into the hole, standing 1t almost
IN end. was thrown over against the
bank by the lead team. Garrett was
thrown to the right. making a head
first dive into the deep snow. When I
got up could just see his legs, from
he hips UP, feebly wiggling IN the air.
Il rushed around and tried to pull
1im out. He was . big man, and II I
sver tugged and lifted in my life did
{ then. finally had to dig away the
trusted snow before could move him,
IND he was limp when got him out
3ut he soon revived IN the cold cir af-
,er had pumped his arms for q bit.
3y that time Billy Fox had caught up
With US, and helped pull the stage out
u the hole.
When we we're ready TO go again,
Garrett left the driving TO me, and got
inside the coach. The horses were rar-
ng to 60. We drove to where the run
way started and picked up the lost
rtlnk. On the way to the Eight Mile ]
springs we picked UP the two passen- {
gers who were cold, exhausted and I
hungry.
AT our Eight-Aaile Springs station
re got hot meal and changed horses. {
Jarrett asked me 20 drive TO Fort Ben c
On for him. and We made that eight /
niles Ia about as fast time as ever '
Fove horses. 8