Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-10-11
THUGi SPLASH WHlZs



OF an attack upon a stage coach, BY
Indians, in the days before Kansa.
was as we'll sett ed as she is now, will
give the reader fair idea Of the ex'
citing experience Of travellers in that
region.
"Did you see that?"
A stage coach which has been push.
ing along the overland trail in West
ern Kansas is suddenly pulled up by
the driver, who rises in his seat,
points to the broken ground on the
right and ahead, and turns to the
two outside passengers tn repeat:
"Did We see that? Thar's Injuns
ambushed In the dry rayine ahead"
Two passengers on top-five inside
seven in all, but two of them are
women--wives of army officers. Five
men with guns and pistols The
driver won't count unless a bullet
brings down one of his horses
'Ready inside, thar" he asks
TELL them wimen-folks to crouch
down on the floor and keep quiet
Throw open them doors and fasten
'em back. One Of you better cum up
yere. Now, then, thar may he ten
or fifteen, or thar may be fifty or
sixty of the varmints They've got
their ponies, in course. They'll make
the rush jest whar the road bends
lords the river. They'll cum whoopin'
and yellin' like lunatics broke loose,
but don't let the noise rattle We. Pm
goin' to put my horses on the dead
run and keep 'em going at that, and
expect the rest OF ye to do the
sho0tin'. Everybody all ready? Then
here goes!"
Two women crouching on the floor
OF the coach praying to God-five
pale-faced men with teeth hard set
gripping their rifles and determined
to make a good fight Of it With a
shake of the lines the driver breaks
the four horses into q run, and then
braces his feet and looks straight
ahead. The spirited animals will lie
terror stricken at the first yell and
run away. He must keep the coach
in the road or wipe-out is certain.
Yes, the Indians are there-half
hundred Of them. They have been
In ambush for an hour. This Is the
first stage to the West for three day s;
1T will be the last for fortnight 1t
Is another Indian outbreak and Gus
ter's men will ride over the Smoky
Hill section to find mutilated corpses
at every relay.house for 100 miles.
The bend in the road is reached, and
OF sudden fifty ponies rush out of
the dry ravines, which spread out
there like the fingers of a human
hand, and fifty Indian warriors
whoop, shrek, and yell at the top OF
their voices. They fire their rifles
and discharge their arrows Us they
charge, but it is wild fusilade.
''Steady, now" calls the driver.
but keeping his eyes on his flying
horses. "My little trick has knocked
'em out They'll hev' to swing in be-
hind us, and you fellers want to take
1T cool and not waste yer lead.
Geewhew, but amt them horses cut.
tim out the pace:"
The Indians fire at the men on the
roof-they urge their ponies to over
take the swaying, bounding, flying
coach-they yell like devils let loose.
Crack! crack! crack! go their rifles.
A pony falls-a warrior throws I'D
his hands and tumbles to the earth
the driver gets tirmer grip on the
lines and mutters:
''Splendid! splendid! Couldn't ask
'em to do BETTER II them fellers in
side has got sand Well pull through"
The warriors were gaining. With
sudden rush the mob parted to take
the stage right and left and to get at
the horses. Then from the open door
rifles and reyolvers cracked-from the
women crouched on the floor with
faces buried in their hands came
shrieks and walls of despair.
"lt's straight run now, and the
Lord help u.s." whispered the driver,
as he shifted all the lines to his left
hand and drew his revolver and
opened fire. Take that yc painted
devil! Down We go. We spotted cayuse!
That's the last errer you'll ever shute.
my yellin' buck! Revolyers is the
thing, boys-down with yer rifles and |
use them barkersl"
"Oh, God! have pity on us!' prayed |
the women between their sobs, but
the white-faced men firing through
the open doors over their heads heard
them not Thud. splash. whizn
came bullet and arrow. There was
the jingle Of breaking glass-splint.
srs flew about-drops of blood fell
upon the upturned faces and burned
ike fire. All at once pandemonium
ceased and silence reigned. The In
1ians had abandoned the attack. On
hat three mile stretch lay dozen
lead and wounded bucks-more than
hat number Of dead and wounded
)onies
whoa! my beauties!" called the
lriver, as he laid aside his pistol and
eparated the lines. This ere fout
S over. and We needn't throw any
more shoes of. Easy, now-whoa.
low is it with you fellers back thar9n
As the frightened horses began to
lacken their pace he cast a swift
lance over his shoulder. The three
nen were lying down on the roof.