New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-03
THROUGH the Canon.

1T was ride, boys" said Uncle Nell. IL
shall always remember. l was in the EN-
ploy of the Overland Stage Company,
superintendent o. the same. during nv
sojourn in Mexico. l have driven over the
same route before and since. many times
mountlny the box with the driver, riding
over the entire route from FL Paso to Tau
Son.
During the early autumn some trouble
had been apprehended from the Greasers
and Aeaches. especially from the latter,
who had broken into our stockade and run
OFT numerous heads OF cattle at the upper
end o.. the route.
at was on the afternoon of an Indian
summer day that mounted the box with
King Lyon. the driver, who held the reins
in one hand and the lash ir the other, pa
tientiy waiting FOR the word 60 and occa-
sionally chirruping to the mules. The word
was given as l secured my seat.
mo moon toni sht. Nell said KIM
Lyel, after darkness had settled around us
".No moon " asked
"'Too late for our use: Won: rise til! one
o'clock
''Ou: coach hauled up at small post
where we exchanged mules. and in five
minutes the fresh teams We're on the road
Amy signs O: 'Paches or Greasers 2
asked King Lyon. as he applied the lash
"'Nothun as yet. Here there was fam
lily smoked out by Greasers the other nigh.
over by the Big Run
with this reply the man led the fa:.yuei
animals into the stable.
Onward we sped; mile after mile passed
by. and we approached the pass. Up hill
and down tugged the mules, pulling the
heayy-laden coach. and we We're soon in the
dreaded pass. The passengers inside had
not been informed OF the peculiarieties OF
the pass. and consequently were uncoa-
scious of the danger.
Neither King nor spoke now. for fear
had driven conversation away. The canon
was hall traversed with no signs OF Indians,
and we were cOngra.ulatiDg ourselves that
our fears were premature-but we were too
hasty. As we came 10 q portion Of the
canon where there was dense foliage. a
volley OF bullets came hurting through the
coach in close proximity - my person
80. God. Nell. I'm shot !" exclaimed
King Lyon. as he lie: 60 his hold OF the
reins. and would have fallen to the ground
had 1 not caught him with one hand and
with the other grasped the lines, and with
Sudden :e:l. brought the mu.es TO stand.
still.
ut was needless Cor me 70 veil Indians"
70 those inside the coach. for they imme.
dIately scrambled out ere another voley
was fired. r!ainticely asking. How many
of EN- !! .
"'Don't know: replied. Be quick.
through the thigh. Help him down. te.-
lows. and stow him liz the coach. OF: Of the
way
Hit bad: asked several
"'Nothin. bad. 4 doctor can Jerk the
pill that Is, if we reach H Paso again
king Lyon had just been placed in the
coach. and a second volley whizzed by.
One of the forward mules dropped in the
road, shot throuy the head. This created
a panic among the remainder, but l man
a ged them thoroughly. At the second vol
ley. our party who had waited with guns.
deringers and pistols for this, instantly
fired into the thcket from whence the shots
came. There was no response, and six su"-
cessive volleys were fired to where Z,
Apaches or Greasers were supposed to be-
"'None thar; guess they're slid. Thought
we were one too many for EN- spoke one
of the passengers and as they. all seemed
to concur with this statement, they clam
bered into the coach, thinking the Indians.
II such they were. had retreated. they be-
ing very cowardly unless in large numbers
Meantime several of Us had untraced
the dead mule and dragged him to the side
OF the road. The others we let 60. intend
Ing to finish our journey with one team-if
We should so succeed. All aboard, and
again mounted the box, grasped the reins
and coaxed the now exhausted team to an
increasing speed. Nothing more was heard
OF the mlscreants. and we passed safely
breathed freely when we reached
terra trma, and the journey seemed short
till we reached Ell Paso.
king Lyon Immediately received med.
ical aid, and in three weeks was able to
take his accustomed place on the route. 1t