The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-09
NERVE ON TIE DRIVERS SEAT.
An Old Stager Whose Goodness Saved
the Lives of Ills Passe myers.
F&o,. The O,,obn Rec

From the Omaha Bee.
The heroism 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 a stage driver
along the st. Joe and Denver route. In
August of that year occurred the great
Indian raid, when 50 many settlers lost
their lives. There were niue 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. TIE morning Of Aug. 9,
1864, was beautiful. The sky was clear
and a 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 unusual incident
until about IL O'Clock, up 70 which time no
signs of 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 bor-
dered on either side by deep ravines worn
by the water-and before the coach had
commenced the descent the driver dis
covered a band Of Indians about thirty rods
in advance. He wheeled the horses in an
instant-two rods further on he could not
have accomplished the turn-and. laying
the whip to their backs, commenced an i'm
petuous retreat. The passengers were terri
fed, and were at once on their feet. Emery
said: "It 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 yell, 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 despair 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 steedy-nerved and unexcited per-
son in this memorable chase. The coach
bristled with arrows, like quilts upon the
fretful porcuplne." They grazed young
Emery on every side and cut the tarett of
the head of the wheel horse, but the young
man needed nothing but his driving
There were two points at which all would
have been lost but for the drivers wonder
full 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 a halt and turned with
care. This he did to the dismay Of some of
the passengers, who saw escape only in
conduct was as great as his courage was
cool and calculating. George Constable,
who was conducting an OK train over the
route, saw the coach about mile ahead, and
at once corraled 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 feel
ings Of grateful emotion.
This memorable drive would never be
forgotten, though not recorded here, for the
story would be handed down to posterity by
the successive generations of the saved.
The hero Of that days chase won not his
best laurels in that hour, for wherever he
was known his gentle manner and kind
deeds won for him a welcome in every
heart. Devoid of boastful preteuce. he
wore meekly his well-deserved honors, and
silently carried a hero's heart. His health
was frail. and In about year he was pros
trated with fever, and, while upon his death
bed, yet still conscious, Mrs.
Randolph, one OF the number he saved
from a horrible death, placed upon his
finger beautiful gold ring. III which was
engraved the following: "E Umphrey. G..
c. Randolph. and Hattie P. Randolph to
Robert Emery, in acknowledgement OF what
we owe to his cool conduct and good driving
Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1864" Soon after this he
passed away from these scenes of warfare
to the silent and peaceful realm of the
dead. The doctor who attended him in his
last hours eulo9ized him as a silent hero
and one or the noblest of mankind.