Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-06-08
a FAMOUS STAGE DRIVER.
his skuI Saved a CoachIoad from Tdbs
OF indians.

The heroism and bravery of Robert
Emery is an example to every school
boy in Nebraska to-day, says the
Omaha Bee. Gage County has the
honor of being his home, and Beat
rice the abiding place of his posterity.
In 1864 Robert Emery was a stage
driver along the st. Joe and Denver
route. In August of that year oe-
CURED the great Indian raid, when
so many settlers lost their lives.
There were nine passengers in his
coach-s. on men and two ladies.
Although exceedingly dangerous, he
offered to drive to Liberty farm,
where his brother Charles lived. The
morning of August 9, 1864, was beau
tiful. The sky was clear and cool
and refreshing breeze came up from
the northwest. The coach left the
station of Big Sandy with its freight
of human life drawn by four large
and mettled steeds in which the
driver had unbOunded confidence and
over them perfect control. The
journey was without accident or un-
usual incident until about IL
" NAOShs up W " LilOli llAlIC ilO - WI
Indians had been seen. But, just as
the lead horses had passed over the
hill and were on spur that led into
the bottom land, or valley-this was
narrow and bordered on either side
by deep ravines, worn by the water
and before the coach had commenced
the descent the driver discovered a
band Of Indians about thirty rods in
advance. He wheeled the horses in
an instant-two rods farther on he
could not have accomplished the
turn-and, laying whip to their
backs, commenced an impetuous re-
treat. The passengers were terrified
and were at once on their feet.
Emery said: ''If you value your lives,
for Gods sake keep your seats, or We
are lost
The Indians, about fifty in num-
Der, gave chase with their terrifying
yells and for about three miles, which
were accomplished in about twelve
minutes, pursued and pursuers made
the most desperate efforts at speed.
The savage yells of those blood
thirsty villains and the walls of de-
spair of the men and women in the
coach are past the power of pen to
describe. But to the glory of the
driver be it said that he was the only
steadily-nerved and unexcited person
in this memorable chase. The coach
bristled with arrows, ''like quills
upon the fretful porcupine." They
grazed young Emery on every side and
cut the Jarrett off the head of the
wheel horse, but the young man
needed nothing but his driving.
There were two points at which ali
would have been lost but for the
drivers presence of mind. There
were two abrupt turns in the road
where the coach would have beer
thrown over had he not brought the
team to halt and turned with care
This he did to the dismay of some o.
| the passengers, who saw escape only
in speed, but their subsequent praise
of his conduct was as great as hi:
courage was cool and calculating
George Constable, who was conduct
ing an OK train over the route
saw the coach about a mile ahead anC
at once corralled his twenty-five wag
| ons. The brave driver drove his nint
passengers into this shelter and safe
ty. Words could not express thu
| gratitude felt for their hero and de
| liverer. In the dellrium of deligh
they embraced and kissed him, anC
thanked God that he had held tn,
lines, and that they were in posi-
tion where they could not interfere
The noble Steeds were not forgotten
The passengers petted them and cas-
their arms about their necks will
feelings Of grateful emotions.
This memorable drive would neve
be forgotten, though not recorded
here, for the story would be HANDED
down to posterity by the succeeding
generations Of the saved. The her
of that days chase won not his bes
laurels in that hour, for wherever h
was known his gentle manner an,
kind deeds won for him a welcome il
every heart, and wherever know
there were praises heard. Devoid O
boastful pretense, he wore meekl
his well-deserved honors and silentl
carried hero's heart. His healtI
was frail and in about year he wa
Frustrated with fever, and while upo
his deathbed, yet still conscious, Mr.:
Randolph, one of the number be ha
saved from a horrible death, place
upon his finger beautiful gold ring
Oh which was engraved the following
''E- Umphry, &. c. Randolph and Hal
tie P. Randolph to Robert Emery,
acknowledgment of what we owe I
his cool conduct and good driving o
Tuesday, August 9, 1864" Soon a
ter this he passed away from thes
scenes of warfare to the silent an
peaceful realm of the dead. The do
tor who attended him in his las
hours eulogized him as a silent her
and one Of the noblest Of mankind.
| ChIna's Empress and the Silk Ipdustr-