The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-02-15
TOMS EXPLOIT.

"'Alloo Fad i'm hoif ! Fad i'm
hoff There hain't benny meat hat the
stationr'
+" English Tom," as the boys called
him, was tenderfoot if ever there was
one. lie went from Castle Garden TO
Galveston, Texas, and then came direct
| ly to the far frontier where he was en-
poyed at one of the stage stations He
had not benin the country over month,
aud therefore was new to the WAYS of
the people, aud also to life on the border.
At that time the Stage line extended
from Fort Worth, Texas, to FL aso,
passed on westward through New Mexi.
co and Arizona and had It's western ter
minus at San Diego, Cal. Branches ex-
tended from san Antonio to Fort Con-
cho, and from Mesila, N. NJ, northward
through that Territory to Colorado, but
the main line was Fort Worth, then
quite little city, to San Diego, dis.
tance OF about !, 700 miles. This was
the longest stage line in the world. And
what country was traversed by those
heavy, rocking coaches with their four
wild mules
from Fort Worth to FL Paso, a dis
tance of 700 miles, there was not town.
The first place of any importance west of
Fort No. tn was Fort COncho, over 200
miles away, and one of the frontier out
posts. About every thirty miles was u
stage station" occupied by station
keeper, ''slock tender" and a guard of
about four or five soldiers. Further west
was Stockton, still further Fort DAVIS.
ana then FL Paso. A few saloou1,
number of gambling places and a store
or two comprised the town" at each of
these forts; but all alon. that stretch of
20 miles there was n It human habita-
iiou except the stage stations. The four
or five soldiers at each station acted as
guard in case Ind ans tackled the place,
rs they often did. Zach stage also car
ried one soldier, who sat bes de the
driver, and who was supposed to repre-
sent the United States army in case the
coach was ambushed by Indians or at
tack d by road agents. The drivers drove
about sixty mics. Every other station
was Swing station, where the mules
were changed, aud every other station was
a home" one, where the drivers lived,
stopping at one "home" station when
going west and the other when going
east. Life at these far outposts of civiliza-
tion was dreary and monotonous enough,
but st II il had some simple pleasures. and
not inirelueatly hardships and peris.
The second station west of Fort Davis
was home" and was called Van
Horns Wells The stage company had
spent considerable money on, or rather
in these wells, but at depth of about
two hundred feet they were as dry as at
the top. The next station westward was
Eagle Springs, and here was a large
spring of clearest water. The distance
between the two stations was twenty
two miles, and two men were constantly
employed hauling water from Eage
Springs to supply the men and mules at
Van Horns Wells. The poorest mules
owned by the company We're used with
this r-wagon-four broken-down
animals that could not, by any possible
urging or abuse, be induced to go faster
than very slow walk. The wagon was
common affair, containing barrels that
were filled through the hung. The road
between the two stations led along gul-
lies and washouts where the tall grasses
and bushes afforded easy ambuscades.
Sometimes il led through small CANYONS.
whe the Indians had been known to
hide behind the rocks and shoot the men
on the wagon. The only water in that
region was at Eagle Springs, and for
many years it had been fayorite stop
ping place for the rowing bands of
ApachCs and Comanohes
''Engli>h Tom made his appearance
at Van Horns Wells in the summer of
1877. The first thing he did upon arriv-
ing at the station was to become the pos
SCISSOR of a wolf-skin cap, with a long
tail hanging down the back. The BOYS
told him, that the cap was the proper
thing, and so he sweltered and suffered
and wore it.
Indians had murdered the driver of
the water wagon, and the company had
considerable difficulty in getting any
one to undertake the dangerous and
monotonous task Of hauling water to the
men and animals at Van Horn. Finally
''White Buffalo, a reckless young chap,
who had lost his last cent with the monte
players at Fort Davis, was induced to
take the place at double pay, and eng
lish Tom" was seut TO fiji the barrels
with water and help "White Buffalo" "
The latter smiled when he saw his as
sistant, but said: "He'll do, | reckon.
I'll try him anyway"
A coyote had Jumped up from some
Kidding place near the road and started
away with long lope. white Buffalo"
rea he'd for his rifle, but "Englsh Tom"
sprang from the wagon, waved his wolf
skin cap in the air, and started after the
fieet-footed coyote as fast as he could
run. 7 hen il was that he claimed
"Ead i'm hoff Fad i'm hoff There
hAin't heny meat hat the station"