Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-04-05
AFAmoUs STAGE DRIVER.
MS skui saved a Coachioad from Trib'
of Indians


| p,s skui saved a Coachioad from q Tribe
of Indians.
The heroism and bravery OF ROber.
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 1854 Robert Emery was a stage
driver along the st. Joe and Denver
route. In August Of that year oc-
CURED the great Indian raid, when
so many settlers lost their lives
There were nine passengers In MS
! coach-seven men and two ladies.
Although exceedingly dangerous, he
offered to drive to Liberty farm,
where his brother Charles lived. The
morning OF August 8, 1854, was beau
tiful The sky was clear and cool
and a 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 ii
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 discovered
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 mum
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 all
would have been lost but f. the
drivers 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 Constable, who was conduct
ing an OK train over the route,
saw the coach about mile ahead and
at once corralled his twenty-five way
ons. The brave driver drove his nine
passe myers into this shelter and safe
ty. Words could not express the
gratitude felt for their hero and de-
iiverer. In the dellrium OF delight
they embraced and kissed him, and
thanked God that he had held the
lines, and that they were 10 a posi-
tion 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 emotions.
This memorable drive would never
be tOIgotten, though not recorded
here, for the story would be handed
down to pOsterity by the succeeding
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, and wherever known
there were praises heard. Devoid Of
boastful pretense, he wore meekly
his well-deserved honors and silently
carried a hero's heart. His health
was frall and in about year he was
Frustrated with fever, and while upon
his deathbed, yet still conscious, Mrs
Randolph, one of the number be had
saved from a horrible death, placed
upon his finger beautiful gold ring,
on which was engraved the following:
"E Umphry, q. c. Randolph and Hat
tie z. Randolph to Robert Emery, in
acknowledgement of what we owe to
his cool conduct and good driving on
Tuesday, August 9, 1854" Soon af.
ter this he passed away from these
scenes of warfare to the silent and
peaceful realm Of the dead. The doc
tor who attended him in his last
hours eulogized him as a silent hero
and one Of the noblest of mankind.
China's Empress and the SILK Indu.tr,
The Emprass of China ha. ,ooo-.r.