West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-01-26
TOMS EXPLOIT.

calico Fad i'm hofT Fad i'm
hotf There hain't benny meat hat the
stationln ~
" English Tom, as the BOYS called
him, was tenderfoot if ever there was
one. He went from Castle Garden TO
Galveston, Texas, and then came direct
ly to the far frontier, where he was en-
ployed at one of the stage stations. He
had not been in the country over a mon.h
and therefore was new to the wavs OF
the people, md also TO life on the border.
At that time the s age line extended
from Fort Worth, Texas, to III Taso.
passed on westward through New Mcxi.
co and Arizona, and had ITS western ter.
minus at San Diego Cal. Branches ex-
tended from San Antonio TO Fort Con
cho, and from Mesilla, 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 LOO miles. This was
the longest stage line in the world. And
what country was travcrscd bv those
heavy, rocking coaches with their four
wild mules!
From Fort Worth TO I'll Taso, a dis
tance Of 700 miles, there was not town.
The first place of any Importance west Of
Fort Wo. tn was Fort Concho, over 200
miles away, and enc Of the frontier out
posts. About every thirty miles was a
stage station, occupied by n station
keeper, 'stock tender" and guard of
about four or five soldiers. Further west
was Stockton, still further Fort Davis
anil then FL Paso. A few saloons. n
number of gambling places and store
or two comprised the town" at each of
those forts; but all alons that stretch of
40 miles there WAS 4 human habita-
tion except the stage stations. The four
or five soldiers at each station acted as n
guard in case Ind ans a'tacked the place.
rs they often did. Each stage also car
rled one soldier, who sat beside the
driver, and who was supposed to repre-
sent the United States Army i'm case the
coach was ambushed by Indians or at
tackled by road agents. The drivers drove
about sixty mics. Every other station
was swing station, where the mules
were changed, and eve Y yothcr station was
home one, where the drivers live
stopping at one "home" station when
going west and the other when going
east. Life at these far outposts Of ciyiliza-
tlon was drcacy and monotonou5 enough.
but still il had some simple Pleasure. and
not inirequeatly hardships and pelis
The second station west OF Fort Davis
was a - home, an 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 rs dry M m
the top. The next station westward was
Eagle Springs, and here was LARGO
spring Of clearcst water. The distance
between the two stations was twenty.
two miles, and two men were constantly
employed hauling water from Fag'c
Springs TO supply the men and mules at
Van Horns Wells. The poorest mules
owned by the company were used with
this waterwagon -four brokcn-dowu
animals that could not by any possible
urging or abuse, be induced to 90 faster
than a very slow walk The wagon WAS
common affair, containing barrels that
were flled through the hung The road
between the two stations led along pul
lies and washOuls where the tail grass scs
and bushes afforded easy ambuscadcs
homctlmes it led through snail canyons.
where the Indians had been known To-
hide behind the rocks and shoot the men
on tho wagon. The only wlter in that
region was at Eagle Springs and for
many years 10 had been o fagorite stop
ping place for the rowing bands Of
Apachcs and COmanchcs.
English Tom made his aDrearauce
at Van Horns Wells in the summer of
1877. The first thing ne did upon arriv-
ing at the station was to become tho nos.
SCISSOR Of wolfskin cap. with o. louy
tail hanging down the back The bows
told him, that The cap was the prorer
thing, and so ne swcltered aud suffered
and wore &C.
Indians had murdered the driver OF
the water wagon, aud tho company had
considerable difficulty in getting any
ono to undertake the dangerous and
mOnOtOnous task OF hauling water TO- the
men and animals at Van Horn. Finally
"White Buffalo" reckless younochap.
who had lost his last cent with the monte
players at Fort lavie. was induced t0
take the place at double pay, and "Fng-
iish Tom was sent 90 800 The barrels
with watcr and help "White Buffalo"
The latter smiled when be saw his as-
sstant. but said "UeW do. reckon.
l'll try him anyway"
A coyote had jumped UP from some
Kidding place near thc rold and started
away with q long l0po "WLite Bnfalon
reached for bis rifle, but "Enplfsh Tom
sprang from Che wagon, waved bis WOLF
skin cap in the air, and started after Che
heetfOOtcd coyote as fast as hc could
run. . hen 10 was that Eo exclaimed
"'Ead i'm ho1 Fad m hon Thqo
ha.n't hcny meat hat the station ("
The rifle dropped from White Bu6alo's