70 The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 



continued careering at the same pace until they had passed the 

 village of Twynholm. Here the guard, Hunter, much to his 

 credit, and at the imminent hazard, we believe, of his life, passed 

 over the vehicle to the back of the wheelers, and both by restrain- 

 ing and soothing these succeeded in checking the fury of the 

 leaders. The Kirkcudbright postman, while waiting at Tarf 

 Bridge, observed the coach pass without stopping, and not 

 choosing to be cheated out of his usual burden, and suspecting 

 moreover that all was not right, he immediately galloped after the 

 truant mail. From the darkness of the night, no one could 

 observe the absence of the driver, and it was fortunate the man 

 possessed so much presence of mind ; and from the state of the 

 reins it required both the guard and the postman to pilot the 

 horses to the burgh of Gatehouse. The high mettled steeds, 

 before they were stopped, had galloped a distance of 4 miles, and 

 passed in their course Red Lion Village, Meiklewood toll bar, 

 and two bridges, one of which from its narrowness and the 

 awkward way in which it angles with the road requires careful 

 driving even in daylight. It so happened that there were no 

 passengers either in or on the mail, and the only sufferer is the 

 poor driver, who, on recovering from the stunning effects of his 

 fall, got to a house, where he now lies in a critical, though not, it 

 is hoped, in a dangerous way."^'' 



" On Saturday, 25th January, 1840, the Dumfries Mail was 

 upset when about eight miles on this side of Edinburgh. The 

 axletree all of a sudden gave way, and pitched the coach on its 

 beam ends to the great alarm, although very fortunately not to 

 the serious detriment, of the passengers. The guard in particular 

 was thrown from his seat to some little distance, and in falling 

 sustained a few slight bruises. But wayfarers such as him care 

 little for scratches, and although a relay might easily have been 

 found he still continues in the performance of his duty. As no 

 help happened to be at hand to repair the axletree the driver was 

 despatched to Edinburgh for another coach, the passengers 

 meanwhile locating themselves as they best could in the neigh- 

 bouring houses ; and the accident altogether detained the Mail 

 fully six hours beyond the proper time."28 



27. "Courier," Nov. 13th, 1827. 



28. "Dumfries Courier," Wed., Jan. 29th, 1840. 



