St. Landry democrat., 1880-01-24
A Daredevil Jehu.

Buffalo Bill tells a good story about a
party of Englishmen travelling on the
plains before the Pacific Railroad was
finished. They came grumbling into
Laramie, abusing the driver and the
coach and the 'blarsted country" gen.
orally, because, they averred, there was
no coaching or driving outside of Eng
land Their contempt of all things
American was shown in the most Of
fensive manner to all the people stand
ing around as they alighted. 1t hap
pened that Bob Scott, the finest driver
and the most reckless daredevil on the
plains, was to take the coach to the next
station, eight miles westward from
Laramie, and as the gay .Jehu heard the
remark of the Britishers, he slowly made
up his mind to give them specimen OF
purely American coaching. The stable
boys led out six colts that looked as If
they had never heard of a stage before );
they reared and snorted, plunged and
kicked until the noble Britons were quite
delighted with the anticipation of fine
drive.
"Now, driver, just give 'em their
heads and let 'em go; don't you be
afraid, my boy
eyes, says another encOuragingly,
"my good fellow, just 60 ahead.'
Bob mounted the box slowly while a
man held each horse; he gathered the
rens and said quickly: Let 'em co.
And they did, and the colts plunged and
reared but Bob's iron grasp held them
in. With the aid of the California
brakes he held them down to walk for
three miles, while passengers bias
phemed at him for "cad' and a
sneak. At the end of that three miles
they got to the top of hill and one
Briton poked his head out of the win
dow and began to say something, but
as he did a wild, unearthly yell walked
that vicinity, and at the same time Bob
threw all six lines down. The coach
seemed to lift from the ground, and
those six colts started at the very best
speed they could make. Another yell
from Bob, and they seemed to increase
it; then to hel p matters, he drew his
revolver and began firing over the
horses heads.
"Great God,' cried the Britons,
twelve got into the hands of a blarsted
lunatic!N
"Stop, stop" they shouted; but the
mad team and crazy driver tore on faster
and faster, while the stage went bouncing
over the rocky road in a way that threat
ened to pound the passengers to pieces
Bob craned his neck over and yelled into
the window:
Scents, I'm just getting 'cm started !;
they'll do better after awhile" And he
took out the lamps and hurled them at
the leaders with wild Comanehe war;
whoop.
The affrighted passengers presently
saw the station in full view; the ques-
ton was how was that team to be stop
ped. They gave themselves up for
gone, and hung on despairingly to the
seats. 1t seems that the horses were
accustomed to 90 right into the stable,
coach and all, and up they came to the
open door at full speed. There was Il
yell from the assembled stable attend
ants and tavern loafers, then fright
full crash as the whole top of the coach
went off, throwing three Britons out
and breaking two arms and leg, be-
sides other slighter accidents. Bob came
out of the stable smiling, picked up al
Englishman, and said
'sNever mind, sir; We'll have a real
nice drive to the next station. | was
obliged to take 'em along slowly over
that ere bad road. Boys, put in the
other team in a fresh coach, and give
me a couple of cocktails. Its dull driv-
ing so doggone slow, and I'm powerful
dry"
Those Englishmen waited and sent
for a doctor, but they did not put down
any thing in their notebook about
American driving. Washington Capi-
tai.