The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-01-27
a TEXAS T'IEAGEDY.
attack By Indians On Stage Coach
Geing Vest FROM Fort Worth.

LITTLE Rock, Ark, JAN, 12.-To-
day 1Ir, Q. e. Cleveland, OF New York
passed through this place en- route foI
the East. While waiting for the con.
nocting train he related to your cores
pondent the particulars Of an ordeal
through which he passed while in Tex
as, that almost borders on the narve-
lous. He was a passenger ON the i'll
fated stage which was destroyed by the
Indians on January 9Th, while going
westward from Fort Worth, and had
narrow escape from horrible death.
lie says the Indian attack was unex-
pected. They had been travelling for
some hours without noticing anything
which was calculBted to excite suspic-
ion. The weather was very cold for
that latitude; and the stage rolled
swiftly along while the driver and him
self busted themselves in trying to keep
warm. Not word WAS spoken, only
when the driver urged his horses to
greater speed. The day wore en-. As
twilight gathered, shutting down quIck-
ly over the earth, the stage entered
Quitman canyon. This is a long mar
row gorge thickIy interpreted with
rocks and trees. 1t is wild spot.
The trees seem like spcctres in the
shadow Of night. The b0ulders are
huge and ungainIy. There Is some
thing uncanny about. The whole as
pect Of the scene-rocks, trees, and
winding road--once seen Is never for
gotten. The coach was jogging slow
ly along through the canyon, when sud
denly band Of Indians emerged from
the shadows On either side of the road;
and with bIood-curdling ycIls began
firing upon the vehicle. A terrib g
scene cnsucd. The horses frightened
at the discharge of firearms, became
unmanageable and ran away. The
stage was dragged over the rocky road
at terrific speed, z blaze Of fire lighting
up the way every time the horses hoots
touched the earth, The savages, yell
ling like demons, started il pursuit
It Was now Il race for life, when every
moment seemed an eternity Of anguish
and despair. As the coach turned an
angle in the road, Cleveland succeeded
in getting on the step, from which he
was flung, bruised and bleeding, fully
fifteen feet from the roadside, into q
mass of grape vines and black berry
bushes. lie was stunned by the fail
and does not remember when the In
dams passed. He returned to con-
sciousness, and wandered until nearly
daybreak before he could find assis-
lance.
Meanwhile the horses drew the stage
two or three miles further, when the
Indians overlook it. The horses, over
taken and shot down. The driver was
killed, being literally riddIed with bull
lets; his body rnutilated beyond recog-
milton. The mail pouches were cut
open and the letters rihed Of all the
money, drafts, and such like, that they
contained. They were then scattered
up and down the ROAD. The papers
which were found in the sacks were
also thrown to the four winds. The
harness was cut to pieces and thrown
everywhere. The coach was then
hacked to pieces aud then set on fire
Apparently satisfied with their work
the savages rode away. It is reported
that they murdered a settler and his
family abhut twenty miles west from
the scene Of the present tragedy.
Cleveland lost his baggage, includ-
ing some important papers. The lat
ter comprise deeds 10 valuable land in
various portions of Texas. The annals
of the Western border do not record a
more thrilling event.