Year: 1877

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AFTER TWO BURLY CowARDs JUMPhD


SHE STOPS A RUNAWAY TEAM.


On the stage route between Ellenville
and Summitville, N. Y, is a long, steep
hill known as Budd's Hill As the stage,
containing Mrs. Jane Hollingsworth and
two small children, William Braun and
James Low, the driver, had just begun
the descent of the hill the pole slipped
through the neck-yoke and the stage ran
heavily against the horses heels. They
at once started at a furious rate down
the hill. They driver dropped the reins
and jumped from the stage to the road
side. Bran, who occupied the seat with
Low, sprang out at the same time. Mrs.
Hollingsworth and her two children oc.
cupied the rear seat in the stage, and
there was no possibl way for her to es-
cape from it, if she had thought 1t wise
to do SO. Seeing herself and children left
to their fate by the men, she determined
to make a desperate effort to save their
lives, If possible; although with the team
plunging madly down the steep declivi-
ty, without restraint or guidance Of a
driver, and the coach swaying from side
to side threatening momentarily to be
capsized down the high bank on the lawn
side, the chances for escape from death
seemed slim indeed. Mr.. Hollingsworth
clambered over the three high backed
seats between her and the drivers box,
first quieting her children, who were
screaming in terror, with the assurance
that she would save them. Reaching the
drivers seat she was compelled to climb
over the DASH board to the tongue of the
coach, between the two frantic horses to
gain possession of the reins, which had
apparently been flung over the horses
backs by the cowartlly and terror-stricken
driver. Mr.. IL. Tallman, of Middle
town, who was driving up the hill, saw
the stage team dashipg over towaris him,
just as Mrs. Hollingsworth had secured
the lines and was climbing back to the
drivers seat. 1allman says she was as
pale as death, but clutched the lines
firmly as the stage dashed by his wagon,
He says he expected to see the coach
hurled over the bank at the turn in the
road below, but the courageous woman
by most miraculous strength succeeded
in pulling the horses close along the
base of the hill on the upper side and
the curve in safety Tallman
and others who had witnessed the thrill
ing scene, hurried after the flying stage,
They came in sight of it, and saw the
horses pulled skilfully against the hill by
Mrs. Hollingsworth, until the fury of
their Career was broken, and then were
adroitly turned off at level place in the
road and brought up against fence,
where, after several Intellectual plunges
to free themselves from the obstacle,
they came to standstll. When the
men came up the brave woman was still
holding the lines, but was unconscious
Where the lines had been wrapped about
her hands they had almost buried them
selves beneath the flesh, and blood
streamed from the ugly gashes they
made. The children were still crouch
ing in terror in one corner of the coach,
locked in each others arms. There was
not scratch on the horses, not break
in the harness, nor the slightest injury
done to the coach. Mrs. Hollingsworth
was at ono taken to the nearest house
and given the best of care. She soon re-
covered, and in an hour or so had the
strength and nerve to proceed on her
journey in the same coach and behind
the same horses with which she had had
so terrible an experience, She says she
never expected to see her children again
when she left them to attempt the con-
troll of the team. Her bravery and
prowess made her heroine, and the
crowd that had been drawn to the scene
gave her three hearty cheers, when the
stage finally drove on with her and her
children. Mrs. Hollingsworth is about
thirty years old, and of slight frame.


Low, the driver, and Bran, the pas =
senger, were both badly hurt by their
cewardly jumps, but their injuries did
not save them from the scorn and indig-
nation of the populace.