The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-19
HIS NARROW ESCAPE.
a METHODIST MINISTER'S EXPERT
eNCE WITH INDIANS.
jio wao tn, Solo Passenger In a Stage
That Was Attackcd-The Driver WINS
Killed, AMI the Preacher Attempted to
Take His Placc-A Lucky Tumble.

hiiied, AMI tho Preacher Attempted to
Take His Placc-A Lucky Tumble.
Tho Cheyennes and lliowas were on
tho warpath in 1867 Stage stations
wore attacked and burned, telegraph
wires wero torn down and thrown into
wells, and all regular communication
ON the overland trail was abandoned. 1t
was tho duty Of Captain Powell to estab-
lish the stations, leaving a guard of
two or three men at each, and to push
on toward Fort Lupton. The country
was swarming with Indians, and small
parties Of white men moved only under
great peril. At one point along the river
the command met IL stage, which pre-
sented an amusing sight. On the top sat
five men, armed with long guns and re-
volvers, while from the inside peered
woman and three children. The captain
persuaded the party to place itself under
his protection, as coach had been at
tackled the day before and the driver
killed. AT tho Wisconsin ranch tho
coach and tho dead body Of the driver
were brought in. The lining had been
cut out and the woodwork was riddled
with bullets. The savages had torn open
the mail sack and distributed the let
ters over the plains, after tearing them
open as If i'll search Of money.
The next day at a spot called Living
Springs, 40 miles north of Donyer 4
long, lank individual walked into camp.
The stranger called for tho officer in
command and was conducted to Cap
tain Powell
The man introduced himself as a
Methodist minister from Denver" said
Colonel Powell. Il asked him how he
happened to be so far from home. He
replied by saying that he wanted to Dor
row gun. If a coach comes through
said he, L want to go along aud kill
some of those red devils that wore after
me yesterday. asked the man to sit
down and tell his story, He did So say
ing that he was in the coach whose
dit.Svttif! Mas killed the day before. I
looked at him in establishment, but he
told his story i'll such q straightforward
way that believed it. He explained
that tho day before was quite warm,
and after dinner he had pulled off his
coat and boots, and being the only pas
senger i'll the coach had stretched hi1ii.
self across the seats inside and gone to
sleep. His story went as follows:
"'I had not been mapping very long
when was awakened by the most in
fernal yelling / ever heard in my life.
looked out the window and found that
30 or 40 Indians had attacked the coach
and were pouring volley after volley
into it, Tho driver had turned the
horses, and we were making remarkable
speed toward Godfrcy's ranch A shot
struck tho driver, and he fell off the
box dead
"'Thon thought my only chance Of
safety lay i'll reaching tho loot and get
ting hold of the lines 1 climbed out of
the door, crawled into the seat left va
can't and discovered to my dismay that
tho lines had fallen between the horses
and were dragging on the ground -
Continuing his narrative Colonel
Powell related the story as it camo from
the lips of tho minister. The Indians
continued their frightful shouts, and the
terrified horses plunged forward ut n
pace that threatened to wreck the coach.
The minister climbed down to the
tonguo of the coach and made a wild
grab for the lines At the same moment
the coach lungcd across gully in the
sand which had been formed by n storm
tho day before. The minister lost his
hold and fell headlong into the wash
out. The coach passed over him, and
moment later the pur. ing Indians
dashed by on horseback after the coach
and horses.
The minister lay perfectly still for
several minutes. Then he peered over
tho 111nin fn that tl,n l,ol
stopped Il short distance away and was
being robbed. The minister saw only
one means of escape. The Indians
would certainly return for his scalp,
and his only safety was in bold dash
for the Platte river, several hundred
yards away. The river was wide and
swift, and he might succeed in crossing
to the opposite bank. The project was
carried into execution. In his stocking
feet the white man made dash through
300 yards of cactus Two red devils
attempted to head him off, but the
thoroughly aroused minister of tho COS
pei far outclassed the natives of the
plains as Splinter. With prayer
upon his lips he plunged into the muddy
water and reached IL small island in the
center of the river.
Looking back to the shore, what was
the astonishment of tho man to sec two
strangers, apparently white men, stand
ing and reckoning him to return. The
Indians had retired, and the two new
Corners were officers of Fort Lupton,
who were returning to the fort after
hunting trip along the river. The min
lister swan to shore and was escorted
to place Of safety.
Colonel Powell remained of Fort