The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-16
A WILD NIGHT RIDE.

A WILD NIGHT RIDE.
At O'Clock one September evening IN 1876
took the coach which left Custer CIty-or
Custer village, for the town consisted Of
twenty or thirty log structures-tog 60 to Sid
ney, Neb. A coach l suppose it should be
called, though on the plains this vehicle,
which has the drivers seat on the same level
as the passengers seats, is called a hack"
had gone 10 tAe Hills" to engage In min
ing, but after four months Of prospecting had
decided to open general supply store at the
new town Of Dead wood, and was on my way
to Omaha to purchase goods for the venture.
A tin lamp. fastened In one corner of the
shack" discovered 10 me two passengers
within as I entered and took my seat. One
was an old gentleman, apparently weak and
81, for, although it was not a cold night,
he was muf1ed ia coarse, heavy ulster over
coat Moreover, such Of his face as l could
see between gray beard, which almost COW
cred it, and the rim Of a slouch hat, was pale
and thin, and the eyes looked sunEen and I'M
natural. AT least, SO they struck me at
cursory glance.
The other passenger was young fellow OF
twenty-five or twenty-three years, judged,
decidedly dandiied in his dress for that re-
gion. He wore stiff hat and stand up col
lar encircled by a neat tie, and had on a dark
suit, evidently custom made which was an
unusual get up" for that region, and one
which at once sroUSed my suspicion, for the
only persons I lad seen about the mining
towns dressed in anything like that fashion
were gamblers, q class Of men had made it
q point TO avoid.
Just before setting out the driver came to
the side of the vehicle, thrust in a light Win
chester carbine aud placed it between nay
knees.
81 see you didn't have no gum" said he,
IAN keep q couple Of extra ones fer sech."
That was all No further explanation was
necessary in those days
took charge OF the weapon, although
was as little expert IN its use as I was in han
ding the Smith & Wesson in my biQ pocket,
which, indeed, l had never discharged.
knew enough Of life in the mines to know
that the bad nan with gun" is usually
the man who gets into difficulty rather than
the pe2ceable and unarmed citizen; But
Stage ride from Custer to Sidney at that
time was a trip not altogether likely to be
without its adventures, and for once I re-
GREETED my uufaInliiarity with shooting
lrons.n
1t occurred to me that if we were g. Jumped
by road agents, as the phrase went, the free
hooters OF the route woald have little TO fear
from the occupants Of the hack, whether they
got much money or net. There were usually
valuables Of some sort IN the iron box under
the drivers seat.
The young man who sat opposite me had a
carbi8e across his lap, but I fancied he knew
L. e ii 4 a-4,, I
he sat without noticing me, twirling a slight
mustache and hunnIng tune "a fresh
gamssSer, if one at Gl,' 1 said to myself
upon a second look at him
The old man had no arms in sight The
driver no doubt regarded him as out Of the
EgAD n Any event
As we rolled up into Buffalo Gap had
few words Of conversation with my compan-
ions learned that the elder was an Iowa
farmer, who had come out TO see what ne
could do in the new mines, but he had been
i'll with mountain fever, and 6iterward at
tackled by rheumatism, so that he bad been
forced to abandon his projects and return
TO the east. lie spoke freely, and in the care
less English On western men.
The young fellow said he was from New
YORK "Neh Yawk, - he pronounced it. Ee
was he said, student of mining engineer
ing but he did not mention what his business
had been in that region; but that was not
strange, for wo could not Talk much. \ Jolt
Ing stage bowling over a rough country at
eight miles an. hour does not give the best op-
portunity for conversation.
soon became sleepy, and leaning back in
my corner took such Lnomentary cat maps as
the nature Of the road permitted. At II
o'clock we made a brief halt at a temporary
stage station, where the drivers foUr-in-hand
team WAS exchanged for fresh horses.
peeped out and got a glimpseof uheteans,
of two men with lanterns, of low structure
Of sod or adobe family outlined, and of the
black side of a PINE covered mountain beyond
The night was quite dark, with floating clouds
and no moon. 1t became somewhat lighter
as We passed out Of the gap a little later, rs
noted through q crack In the swaying flap"
opposite.
The road was now smoother, and ! settled !
back in my corner, Us my companion had
done, 10 get a little solid sleep If possible
dozed or for tune, but was awakened by
the grooming Of the old man beside ME. He |
seemed TO be in great pain, and wTithed about /
nervously. asked HIM what was the trouble /
lie replied that The rheumatism in ms legs |
was nearly killing him.
i wishJ the driverd let me aout we git to ,
tn mex crlck- He'll water likely, N I've |
jest goa t. stretch my legs er die. Ye see I'm |
troubled with craInp Rheumatism, an tn |
amt no room in hyer to sit the craInp out O.
my legs"
I told him I would speak to the driver when /
we halted, few mlnHfes later, at the bank /
of a streaIn-IT hite river, believe. / thrust 1
my head out at me side and asked that the |
old gentleman might he let out for a moment |
10 stretch his legs.
IAN right" said the driver. So he clam |