The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-24
A Daredevil Jehu.

Buffalo Bill tells good story about
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
fensiye 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
ND his mind to give them specimen ct
purely American coaching. The stable
bows 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 go ahead"
Bob mounted the box slowly while a
man held each horse; he gathered the
reins and said quickly: /" Let 'em go.'
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 a walk fol-
three miles, while passengers bias.
phemed at him for a "cad" and
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 Boil
threw all six lines down. The coacl
seemed to lift from the ground, ant
those six colts started at the very bes
speed they could make. Another vel
from Bob, and they seemed to increas'
it; then to help matters, he drew hi
revolver and began firing over tn
/, horses heads.
"Great God," cried the Britons
"we've got into the hands of a blarste'
lunatic!"
"Stop, stop!" they shouted; but tn
! mad team and crazy driver tore on taste
and faster, while the stage went bouncing
!. over the rocky road in way that threat
I ened to pound the passengers to pieces
Bob craned his neck over and yelled int
! the window:
"Gents, I'm just getting 'cm started
they'll do better after awhile" And h
took out the lamps and hurled them a
=, the leaders with wild Comanche wal
whoop.
The affrighted passengers present.
saw the station in full view; the que'
ton was how was that team to be stoI
: ped. They gave themselves up fe
gone, and hung on despairingly to til
y seats. 1t seems that the horses WEI
b. accustomed to 60 right into the stable
coach and all, and up they came to Il
s open door at full speed. There was
!, veil from the assembled stable attend
II ants and tavern loafers, then a frigh
. full crash as the whole top of the coac
!, went off, throwing three Britons o.
and breaking two arms and leg, b.
sides other slighter accidents. Bob can
out of the stable smiling, picked up
Englishman, and said:
J. ssNever mind, sir; Wen have a re
% nice drive to the next station. w
d obliged to take 'em along slowly ov.
q that ERE bad road. Boys, put in Il
= other team in fresh coach, and gi
'. me couple of cocktails. Its dull dri
'e ing so doggone slow, and I'm powerf
he dry"
i. Those Englishmen waited and Sc
,e for a doctor, but they did not put dow
h any thing in their notebook abo
d American driving Washington Cal