The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-09-12
HIS NARROW ESCAPE.
A METHODIST MINISTER'S EXPERT
ENCE WITH INDIANS.

Killed. and the Preacher Attempted to
Take His Place-A Lucky Tumble.
The Cheyennes and Kiowas were on
the warpath in 1867. Stage stations
were attacked and burned, telegraph
wires were torn down and thrown into
wells, and all regular communication
on the overland trail was abandoned. II
was the 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 a 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 a
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 the Wisconsin ranch the
coach and the 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 in search of money
The next day at a spot called Living
Springs. 40 miles north of Denver, a
long, lank individual walked into camp.
The stranger called for the 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 a gun. If coach comes through, ;
said he, L want to 90 along and kill
some Of those red devils that were after
me yesterday. | asked the man to sit
down and tell his story. He did so, say
driver was killed the day before.
looked at him in establishment, but he
told his story in such a straightforward
way that l believed it. He explained
that the day before was quite warm,
and after dinner he had pulled off his
coat and boots, and being the only pas
senger in the coach had stretched him
self across the seats inside and gone to
sleep His story went as follows:
T." 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. The driver had turned the
horses, and we were making remarkable
speed toward Godfrey ranch. A shot
struck the driver, and he fell off the
box dead.
. Then thought my only chance of
safety lay in reaching the boot and get
ting hold of the lines. climbed out Of
cant and discovered to my dismay that
the lines had fallen between the horses
and were dragging ON the ground "
Continuing his narrative. Colonel
Powell related the story as it came from
the lips Uf the minister. The Indians
continued their friRhtful shouts, and the
terrified horses plunged forward at a
pace that threatened to wreck the coach.
The minister climbed down to the
tongue of the coach and made a wild
grab for the lines. At the same moment
the coach lunged across gully in the
sand which had been formed by storm
the day before. The minister lost his
hold and fell headlong into the wash
out. The coach passed over him, and a
moment later the pursuing Indians
dashed by on horseback after the coach
and horses.
The minister lay perfectly still for
several minutes. Then he peered over
the plain to see that the coach had been
stopped short distance away and was
one means Of escape. The Indians
would certainly return for his scalp,
and his only safety VS. in a bold dash
far 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
800 yards of cactus. Two red devils
attempted 10 head him off, but the
thoroughly aroused minister of the Cos
pei far outclassed the natives Of the
plains as a sprinter. With a prayer
upon his lips he plunged into the muddy
water and reached small island in the
center Of the river.
Looking back to the shore, what was
the establishment Of the man to see 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 a place Of safety.
Colonel Powell remained at Fort
Lupton for several months until the In
dians quieted down and danger had
passed away. Then he hauled down the
flag and abandoned the post, marching
to Denver in order to cross the Platte
river, on his way to Fort Laramie At
that time the only bridge ON the Platte
river between the Missouri river and
the mountains was at Sixteenth street
in Denver. News.
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