Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-10-05
THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND OAR
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.
Perilous Experience of a Mail Car
rier-Towed by a Tarpon-Con-
quered the Eagle.

a San Francisco attorney, was
~ one of the early pioneers of the
great West, and few of the old.
timers have witnessed more thrilling
events than he.
'Perhaps the most narrow escape
ever had," said the Judge few days
ago, in recalling scenes that antedate
the gold discovery, twas an encounter
with the hostile Indians in the year
lS47." And here is the story. II
reads like fiction after the lapse OF
fifty years:
In the aforementioned year Adams,
then boy OF seventeen, was engaged
IN carrying military mail between Ell
Paso. Texas, and Albuquerque, New
Mexico. The greater portion of the
country through which he passed was
a desert waste. One piece of the way
was particularly dangerous, being in
the vicinity of a frequent rendezvous
of the Indians, and for the mail car
rier's safety and protection a, small
troop of soldiers was regularly de-
tached from the midway post of Man
zana, on the Rio Grande, to meet the
mail boy at a certain point of rocks,
at which he always halted, and to es-
cort him over that part of the road
which was considered unsafe.
The spot in question was generally
reached after nightfall. 1t SO hap
pened that the officer in charge of the
troop was Sergeant William J. Graves,
who afterward became prominent,as q
lawyer in this State, and who has long
since joined the silent majority.
Young Graves was of herculean build,
brave as lion and as reckless as he
was brave.
Young Adams had on several occa-
sons been hard pressed by savages,
but he was well mounted, and his
Steed had always carried him through
unscathed.
No incident worth mentioning had
occurred for quite little period, SO
that upon one occasion Sergeant
Graves felt inclined to take matters
rather leisurely. Then, concluding
that he would miss the mail carrier if
he rode to the point of rocks, the SER
geant resolved to strike ahead and
meet Adams on the highway.
As usual, the mail carrier halted. 1t
was after nightfall, but the big silver
moon made the night radiant, and OBJ
iects could be distinguished clearly
Tor considerable distance.
The horse was allowed to Craze
about and Adams sat down to rest.
| Than ba lootaJ towor1 NIo,,o,o g.
the troopers, but they were nowhere
to be seen. Soon the horse pricked
up his ears and moved in frightened
way toward its master. Adams knew
what that meant, and, leading the
animal to the cover of some rocks,
peered about and discovered that the
redskins were quietly closing in on
him from all sides.
Delay meant death. Adams put his
carbine in order, sprang into his sad
die, selected an opening in his Indlar
line, and, driving his spurs into the
horse's side, made desperate dast
for life. The Indians we're momen
tarily disconnected by the bold move
ment. Adams used his carbine on the
nearest of the enemy, and, despite g
rain OF arrows, plunged through the
line.
just as he thought himself fairly il
the race to save his scalp he saw aheat
of him in the pale light another band
of Indians that he had not calculated
on. He whirled to one side, and then
a chase against heavy odds began.
For ten miles the painted warriors
pursued him, gaining on him every
minute.
The arrows pierced his clothing
the Indian yells almost drowned the
noise of the hoof beats of his steed
His horse was wounded, but the faith
full beast still struggled on. The sixty
four rounds OF ammunition carried by
the rider were almost exhausted. The
horse fell dead.
At this iuncture firing was heard
afar. The Indians were stayed by
sudden terror.
Crank Frank where are you p
came a powerful voice.
"Here !" cried Adams. And through
the hostile band Graves had burst hi
way, knocking Indians to the righ
and to the lett. The savages scattered
like children before him.
"Quick I" cried Graves, leaning fal
down from his saddle, extending hi
strong hand and locking it around the
enfeebled hand Of young Adams
"Swlng up behind.
Adams mounted behind the ser
gesnt. The Indians didn't recover
from their surprise and shock of the
young giants charge until they wert
aware of two whites on single horse
riding away in the moonlight at {
speed that mocked pursuit-ridine
away to be joined by the troopers. =
Chicago Tribune.
Towed by a Tarpon.