The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-28
NERVE ON TIE DRIVERS SEAT.



Lives of His Passengers.
The heroisn, and bravery of Robert En-
cry is an example to every schoolboy in
Nebraska to-day. Gage county has the
honor OF being his home and Beatrice his
abiding place.
In 1854 Robert Emery was stage driver
along the St Joe and Denver route In
August Of that year occurred the great In
dian raid when 80 many settlers lost their
lives There were nine passengers in his
coach-seven men and TWO ladies. Al
though exceedingly dangerous he offered
to drive to Liberty farm, where his brother
Charles lived. The morning of Aug 9,
1864, was beautiful. The sky was clear,
and cool refreshing breeze came up from
the northwest. The coach left the station
OF Big Sandy with its freight of human
lives, 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 I'M
usual incident until about IL O'Clock, up to
which time ne signs OF Indians had been
seen.
But just as the lead horses had passed
over the hill and were on a spur that led
into the bottomland or valley-this was
lldIJOh anu DOfIipIEl Ol SUIT OCtp
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 ipstant-two rods farther on
he could moi have accomplished the turn
and, laying the whip TO their backs, COM
menced an impetuous retreat The pas
sengers 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 number, gave
chase with their terrifying yells, and fol
about three miles, which were accom-
plished in about twelve minutes, pursued
and pursuers made the most desperate
efforts at speed. The savage yells of those
bloodthirsty 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 il said that he
was the only steady neryed and uneXcited
person in this memorable chase. The coach
bristled with arrows, like quilts upon the
fretful porcupine." They grazed young
Emery on every side and cut the tarett of
the head of the wheel herse, but the young
man needed nothing but his driving.
There were two points at which all
would have been lost but for the drivers
wonderful presence of mind. There were
two abrupt turns in the road where the
coach would have been thrown over had he
not brought the team TO halt and turned
with care. This he did to the dismay OF
some of the passengers, who saw escape
only in speed; but their subsequent praise
of his conduct was as great as his courage
was cool and calculating. George Con.
stable, who was conducting an OK train
over the route, saw the coach about mile
ahead and at once corrailed his twenty-five
wagons. The brave driver drove his nine
passengers into this shelter and safety
Words could not express the gratitude
felt for their hero and deliverer. In the
delirium of delight they embraced and
kissed him, and thanked God that he had
held the lines and that they were in a
position where they could not interfere
The noble steeds were not forgotten. THE
passengers petted them and cast their arms
about their necks with feelings of grateful
emotion.
This memorable drive would never be
forgotten, though not recorded here, fol
the story would be handed down to poster
lty by the successive generations of the
saved. The hero of that days chase won
not his best laurels' in that hour, for wher.
ever he was known his gentle manner and
kind deeds won for him welcome in every
heart. Devoid of boastful pretense, he
wore meekly his well deserved honors ana
silently carried a hero's heart. His health
was frail, and in about year he was pros
trated with fever, and while upon his
deathbed, yet still conscious, Mrs Ran.
dolph, one of the number he saved from a
horrible death, placed upon his finger a
beautiful gold ring ia which was engraved
the following: e. Umphrey, G. c. Ran
dolph and Hattie P. Randolph to Robert
Emery, III acknowledgment of what we
owe to his cool conduct and good driving
Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1861" Soon after this
he passed away from these scenes of war
fare to the silent and peaceful realm of the
dead. The doctor who attended him in his
last hours eulogized him as a silent hero
and one of the noblest of mankind. Omaha
Bee.