The morning call., 1893-07-21


by highwaymen within period of few
years. From it more men have been killed
and wounded than from any other vehicle
Of the kind In America. During the at
tacks upon this old stagecoach no less than
twenty nine persons were killed and four
teen wounded. Why, friends. the very
narration Of the thrilling incidents con-
nected with this coach would hold an
audience spellbOund for hours"
Tell US about it." shouted some one
from the Grand stand.
No, friends; time does not permit.
The performance will now proceed"
The performance did proceed with
will. Dave Stanfield neld the ribbons as
four fiery horses drew the coach ar0nnd
the big arena. Then folio we'd ihe attack
of the Indians and their repuse by the
cowboys.
An hour before the regular afternoon
entertainment brgan a neat little tabeau
was arranged around the historic stage
coach. 1t represented the "holding up" of
the coach by highwaymen. and while the
frightened passengers were being lieved
of their valuables a CALL camera artist
took snap at the scene. The tablpaux.
with members Of the company acting as
road agents and victims, had been prepared
for the purpose.
Dave Stanfeld, who drove the stage for
time between Prescott and Phoenix, is
typical AriZonian.. He is as modest as lie
is daring, and il required some cOaxing to
induce him to talk of the thrilling incidents
connected with the vehicle which has at
tracted so much attention since its advent
in this city.
with the early history of the COACH"
he began. my recollection is not very
clear. My memory is very bad as to dates
and names. do remember that the stage
was first put into service On the sandy
wastes between San Bernardino ana Yuma
on the Grand Central overland line. On
this route 1t was robbed several times by
highwayTen.
But its most exciting adventures began
when it was placed on the route between
Tombstone ana Bisbee early in 1880. l
can't remember how many times the stage
was robbed on this route or exactly how
many men were killed during these at
iacks. 1t speedily became known as a
favorite object OF attack for the worst
gangs of road agents in Arizona, owing 10
the rich treasure carried between the two
thriving mining camps.
"NO; during those perilous trips was
rot driving the stage. / was rounding up
my cattle in the Black Canyon, but j. l..
Ward, the owner of the line, aflerward
told me of the frequent trouble between
Tombstone and BiSbee. Great crowds
were travelling back and forth in those
days. and on one trip the stage carried
thirty-seven pa ssengers besides six trunks
and the treasure box.
During fusillade by highwaymen on
one of these trips woman was killed. A
bullet passed through her heart and be-
came imbedded in the rear of the back
seat. There Is bullet-hole in the back
of the seat now, which testlfes to the
fact"
For two years this old stage was next
run between Prescott and Phoenix. | was
,lriryS - han, hn l..lJ
up A few shots were exchanged, but no
one was hurt. The robbers took the
treasure box, containing $500, and drove
off with my horses-eight big grays. The
next day the horses were trailed through
Camp Verde to Winslow, Apache County,
and recovered. The robbers escaped and
were never captured.
Another one of my trips was even more
exciting than an attack by road agents. l
was descending . mountain road when the
inside hind wheel fell off. There was 10
time to stop and no room on that road to
un nhitch or repair the damage. So | jus.
kept her rattling ahead, lop-sded and rest.
ing CT the axle. until the bottom of the
grade was reached. In this way l drove
Six miles and the two gers inside
were pretty badly scared. but there was
no time for explanations until safe place
was reached.
"For a year this old stage stood at
Ph9nix after it was taken off the line. It
han to make room for the railroad and
lighter coaches"
OF course this stagecoach is not the onIy
attraction at Central Park. Other features
are the lasso-throwng and feats of daring
horsemanship by the cowboys; the bow
and arrow practice. the PRAYER for rain
and dancing by the Pima Indians; the
wonderful shooting of Lillian F. Smith,
champion rife shot OF the world: the race
between the Indian trailer ''Swiftwater'
on foot and mounted vaquero; bronco
riding. showing the perfection attained by
Arizona's champion rough riders; target
practice by mounted Indians; the pony
express, illustrating the method OF carry
ing the fast mail in early days; steer tying
and riding; chase for a life. showing
the cowboy idea Of courtshin; the squaw
race, and an illustrative picture If frontier
life. entitled death Of the Lone Trapper."
That the daring acts of horsemanship are
dangerous is shown by the fact that sew
eral riders have recently been severely
wounded nv falling hOrseS