Oops!  I made a mistake.  Writing from the back of my head is not a good idea.  I mis-remembered the name of the "famous" mountain stageline-owner and driver.  His name was Doc Curtis, not Davis. If he was so famous, why can't I find anything about him.?  I don't have his first name, just the nickname. The article about the accident was in the California Digital Newspaper Collection.  A good search engine that highlights the exact name of William Austin in any news article. San Francisco, CA, Vol 73, No. 107, 17 Mar 1893, "Fall Over a Precipice Narrow Escape of Two Men in the Overturning of a Wagon" Ukiah, CA. It reads like a old Audie Murphy western movie of the 1950's.  I transcribed it and am anxious to put it into the story about William Austin for all Austin researchers to read. I just need some more information about what William Austin (no middle name in any of his records) was doing from 1831 in PA until he enlisted in St. Louis, MO  in Company E, 1st MO Lt. Artillery.  April 27, 1861.  Some thirty years not accounted for.  Parents unknown, but both born in PA.  Williams muster rolls show he was also in the Co E. 1st Regt MO Inf,  and Co A 5th MO Inf.   He mustered out Jul 25, 1865  Benton Bks (Breaks?) MO. In 1897, four years after the stage wreck, William Austin entered the Pacific Branch National Home for Disabled Volunteer Veterans in Sawtelle, (Los Angeles) CA. He died there in 1901.