The record-union., 1894-12-03
THE OLD PONY EXPRESS.
Buffalo Bill Tells His Exciting Advent
ures as I, Maii- Curtier.

BuIaio BIli Tells His Exciting Advent
ures as II Maii-Currier.
Yes, those were exciting times"
sighed Colonel William +. Cody, as lie
sat IN his tent alter the matinee perform
ance, but l have not nearly exhausted
The subject OF the pony express. Let me
tell you couple Of more anecdotes.
The first viii be about Indians, and of
a time when the redskin depredItions III
the nelghborhoOd of several OF the eX-
press stations grew TO be SO bold that for
period the pony express had TO suspend
business, ana even The stages were run
only occasionally.
These occasional trips were full of
danger 1t rarely happened that the
stage escaped without at least an attack.
At last came day when several hum
dred Sioux fell upon coach between
Split Rock and Three Crossings, killed
the driver and two passengers, badly
wounded the Assistant Division Agent,
Lew Flowers, and made away with all
the valuables they could find.
Then we express drivers swore re-
venge. We banded together TO hunt the
murderous Sioux out of the neighbor-
hood
wild Bull, the famous Indian fighter,
took charge OF the expedition. We soon
found the trail of the Sioux, and followed
stealthily until we came in view of the
camp where they had temporarily halted
Oh the other side OF Cedar Creek, a trib-
utary of Powder River. They outnum-
oered US three TO one. In faucied secur-
ity of numbers and strategic position
they had omitted 10 post any scouts out
side the camp to give warning of the ap-
proach of an enemy.
''By advice of Wild Bull we determined
to wait until nearly dark. Then we crept
up as close as possible, and at given sig
nal jumped to our feet, made sudden
dash into the very center OF the caInp.
opened general fire, and Stampeded the
horses. The Indians. taken by utter sur
prise, scattered IN all directions, and did
not rally until we had succeeded in max
ing OF with all their horses, including
those they had stolen, and the larger
share OF the booty they had stolen from
the overland stage.
More to the purpose, we left the camp
strewed with dead and wounded.
But it wasn't Indians we had most to
fear. 1t was white men, road agents. as
they were humorously styled, who were
our greatest enemies.
ION one occasion l was intrusted with
q valuable package containing a large
sum of money. By some means il be-
came known TO the road agents that the
money was in transitu. | reached the end
of my route in safety. But when | got
succeed me had been killed in his track 8
He had evidently been taken to be the
bearer OF the package. There was moth
ing for me to do but continue the ride
myself. l knew it might mean death.
"Betore L went L decided on a strata
gem. L secured a second pair of saddle
pouches. These L stuffed with papers and
hung them III full view from the saddle
girths. The valuable package | folded
up in my saddle blanket in such way
that it was out of sight. Then | rode off.
I'm lonesome spot | was halted. Two
men sprang out from behind an ambush
and covered me with their revolvers
"'Come, Pony Express Bill, we know
you and what you carry. Give up the
saddle pouches
"'Don't you know that it's hanging if
you touch me-? | replied
1--we don't want you, Bill. Give us
what you carry and Well let you gO'
But carry nothing valuable.'
''Weu, Well be the judges of that.
Now, quick, or you're dead man.
$50 l began TO unfasten the pouches.
Mind my Words repeated, You'll
hang for this
"'All right! Well take our chances
was the mOcking response.
by this time the pouches were m
fastened. Taking them in one hand. and
pretending TO be wild with anger. | tInng
them at the head Of one Of the men.
".Ehere, take them = [ cried.
''The man lodged just in time to save
his head. Then he stopped TO pick the
bags up. AS he did so fired at the OF her
man with revolver held in my left hand
The bullet shattered his arm. instantly
L drove my horse over the stopping fig-
ure, knocking him under the horse,s
heels as l did SO, and then was off in ]
gallop.
The man rose to his feet with a curse
made grab for his iitle and sent bullet
after me. But was already out of reach,
My prediction as to tue fate which
awaited these men came true in the end
though not exactly in the way [ had an
ticipaIed. Many years later [ heard that
both had been hanged in Texas for horse
stealing"