The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-07-04
EXPRESS RIDERS DARING DEED
Aa English Party Amazed at "a Frontiers
man on the Plains.

Aa English Party Amazed at Frontiers
man on the Plains.
In the days when the west was wild
and woolly and yard wide party OF
Londoners bent on the destruction of
the buffalo struck a small station on
one Of the now long-forgotten coach
lines on the plains Not one of the Eng
lishmen had ever been in the country
before, but each was confident of his
ability to do the region in proper style.
The whole outfit had rounded up at
the station on the discovery of Indian
signs, but after lying over for two
days the Englishmen concluded that
the three frontiersmen acting as their
guides had been unnecessarily fright
ened. On the third day they announced
that they We're going on to the next
station. "All right" said the frontiers
mn, well go with you, but it will be
run and fight for it." At dawn the
following day the party was preparing
to mount when the agent called out:
Here comes the express" Far to the
eastward a horseman was coming over
the crest of rise in the prairie AS he
came into full view the party could see
that he was hanging low over the pom
mel of his saddle and that he was
flashing the wiry steed galloping atfull
tilt under him. Presently over the
rise came another horseman. Then an
other and another, until a score were
strung out on the trail of the pony ex-
press. The agent silently withdrew to
the station and reappeared with rifle.
Indians" he remarked.
The Englishmen drew their shooting
irons and retreated to the cabin. But
the agent and his helpers led a pony
out of the stable, saddled and bridled
the animal and held it beside the trail
Jim may want to go on" explained
the agent.
Just before the trail turned into the
station it ran through watercourse
filed at the time with suffocating
alkali dust. The Englishmen watched
the express rider until he dashed into
the further opening of the cut and
then prepared to fight for their lives.
AS the pursued and pursuers went out
of sight in the dust the men at the sta
ton heard a rife crack and then hor-
y
dams. Presently out of the dust
clouded watercourse dashed the ex-
press rider, followed closely by paint
ed, screeching savageS. The express
riders face was gashed by an arrow
head and in the flank of his foam
lathered animal a feathered shaft waved
to and fro at every leap. AS the In
dians came on, Englishmen. guides and
stationmen opened fire. With the first
volley three bucks went down and two
of them never rose again. The third
leaped astride of companions pony,
and before the smoke of the first vol
ley had foated upward in thin blue
wisps the war party had sought the
shelter of the watercourse. The eX-
press rider came on, and as he was
abreast of the fresh mount held by the
station agent he leaped from his still
running pony dragging the saddle
bags with him.
Going to stop over, Jim?" asked the
station agent. "Blazes. no." was the
answer, and he threw himself astride
the fresh pony and dashed down the
trail. Presently he turned, plucked
an arrow from his sleeve, and with a
laugh tossed it away. Then he leaned
over the neck of the pony and dashed
his TANKS The next station was ten
miles away and at every mile there
must be an armed band. The English
men stuck to the station for ten days,
when troop OF cavalry came along.
At the station along the trail they
found the express rider knocking
about the bar with strip of
plaster across his face One of the
Englishmen walked up to him, and,
after looking into his face, said: MY
friend, you are brave man, but you
are also blasted fool."-N. Y. World