CH. V DRAG-STAFF 89 



A chain wrapped round the rim of the wheel and 

 round the ordinary skid when the skid is on the 

 wheel, may be used in an emergency. Icy roads 

 are always dangerous to a coach and alarming to 

 the coachman. 



Some Swiss travellino-carriaoes are fitted with 

 an additional brake on the front wheels, which is 

 worked from the near side of the coachman's seat. 

 Obviously the rod working this brake must pass 

 through the centre bolt of the fore-carriage, which 

 bolt is made hollow for the purpose. This second 

 brake obviates, in many cases, the employment of 

 the skid, but it should not be used unless the hind 

 brake is also on, as the retardation of the front 

 wheels while the hind wheels are running free, may 

 cause an accident. 



A drag-staff was formerly attached to travelling- 

 carriages. It is a short pole, hinged to the hind 

 axle and trailing on the ground, so that, should the 

 carriage be stopped in going up a hill, the staff 

 prevents it from running back. It was rarely used 

 on coaches. 



Lamps. — The lamps of a coach are large, with 

 good reflectors, and should be made to burn the or- 

 dinary, large, carriage-candles ; oil-lamps are dirty 

 and troublesome. They are made to fit easily into 

 the lamp-irons, which are fixed on the front edge 

 of the body of the coach, and should have stops on 

 them to prevent turning in their sockets. There 



