DANGERS OF THE ROAD. 63 



help of waggon horses, to draw it out of the snow, but 

 the fore axle gave way, and the coach was left behind ; 

 the bags were forwarded by a post-horse. The Holy- 

 head mail in the foreground, was awkwardly situated, 

 for the horses were all but buried in attempting to pull 

 the coach out of the drift. The coachman got down 

 and almost disappeared in the drift upon which he 

 alighted ; but fortunately at this juncture a waggon with 

 four horses came up, and by attaching them to the mail 

 it was eot out of the hollow in which it was sunk. 



In 1825 was established the celebrated stage coach, 

 the ' Shrewsbury Wonder,' which maintained its character 

 for punctuality, safety, and speed for thirteen years. It 

 was the first that attempted to perform so long a journey 

 as 154 miles in one day ; in fact, as well as in name, it was 

 the wonder of the day. Starting at a quarter to five 

 o'clock in the morning, it arrived in London at a quarter 

 to ten that night, stopping twice for refreshments. On 

 the completion of the railroad between Birmingham and 

 London, the ' Wonder ' ran from Shrewsbury to Bir- 

 mingham whence it was conveyed to London on the rail- 

 road. 



