The Bossier banner., 1892-07-21
eRAlE ERY OF A sTAGE-DRIvER.
Beset by Indians His Goodness Saved the
Lives of His PasseEgers.


Lives of His Passengers.
The heroism and bravery of Robert
Emery is an example to every schoolboy
in Nebraska to-day. Gage county has
the honor of being his home, and Bea-
trice his abiding place.
In 1864 Robert Emery was stage
driver along the st. Joe and Denver
route. In August of that year occurred
the great Indian raid, when so many
settlers lost their lives. There were
nine passengers in his coach--seven
men and two ladies. Although exceed
ingly dangerous, he offered to drive to
Liberty farm, where his brother,
Charles, lived. The morning of August
8, 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 jour
ney was without accident or unusual
incident until about IL o'clock, up to
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 bordered
/ on either side by deep ravines, worn by
| the water-and before the coach had
commenced the descent, the driver dis
covered Il band of Indians about thirty
rods in advance. He wheeled the horses
| in an instant-two rods further on lie
could not have accomplished the turn
and laying the whip to their backs,
commenced an impetuous retreat. 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 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
wells of those bloodthirsty villains anC
the walls of despair of the men ane
women in the coach are past the power
of pen to describe. But to the glory o
the driver be it said that he was th'
only steady-nerved and .unexcited per
son In this memorable chase. The coacl
bristled with arrows like quilts upol
the fretful porcupine." They grazet
young Emery on every side and cut tn
tarett off the head of the wheel horse
but the young man needed nothing bu
his driving.
There were two points at which al
would have been lost but for the driver
wonderful presence of mind. Their
were two abrupt turns in the roa
where the coach would have bee
thrown over had he not brought tn
team to halt and turned with care
This he did to the dismay of some {
the passengers, who saw escap
only in speed, but their subsequer
praise of his conduct was as great
his courage was cool and calculating
George Constable, who was conductin
an OK train ever the route, saw til
coach about mile ahead, and at ono
corraled his twenty-five wagons. III
brave driver drove his nj he passengel
into this shelter and safety. Wore
could not express the gratitude felt II
I their hero and deliverer In the d
lirium of delight they embraced an
kissed him, and thanked God that
had held the lines, and that they we
> in position where they could not inte
y fere. The noble steeds were not forge
ten. The passengers petted them al
7 cast their arms bout their necks wi
q feelings of grateful emotion.
q This memorable drive would never
forgotten though not recorded here, I
the story would be handed down
posterity by the successive generatio
r. of the saved The hero of that da,
chase won not his best laurels in til
hour. for wherever he was known
e. gentle manner and kind deeds won !
a. him welcome in every heart. Deve
W of boastful pretense, he wore meek
d. his well-deserved honors and silent
sc carried a heros heart. His health W
Ve frail. and in about % year he was pr
OF trated. with fever and, while upon
death bed, yet still conscious, Mrs. Rs
IN dolph. one of the nT.nber he saved fr'
he horrible death, pia.ed upon his fms
be beautiful gold ring, in which was
- graved the following: e. Umphr
''' G. C. Randolph and Hattie Z. Randol
to Robert Emery. i'll acknowledge
ne of what we owe to his cool conduct a
ed good driving Tuesday, August 9, lo6
,ly Soon after this he passed away fr
he these scenes of warfare to the sll
;s and peaceful realrp cf the dead. !
doctor who attended him in his
- hours eulogized him ~ silent hero
nc one of the noblest o. mankind.