The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-19
IT RAINED ARROWS.
THE NARROW ESCAPE OF A MAIL CAR
RIER IN THE SOUTHWEST.


hood-sergeant Graves Arrived In the
Nick of Time.
Judge Francis Adams, now San
Francisco attorney, was one of the early
pioneers of the great west, and few Of
the old timers have witnessed more
thrilling occurrences or participated in
more exciting events than he.
perhaps the narrowest escape / ever
had" said the judge few days ago, in
recalling scenes that antedate the gold
discovery, twas an encounter with hos
tile Indians in the year 1S47." And
here is the story. 1t reads like fiction
after the lapse of 80 years:
In the above mentioned year Adams.
then boy of II, was engaged in carry
ing military mail between Ell Paso,
Tex, and Albuquerque, N. M. The
greater portion of the country through
which he passed was 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 carriers safety and protec-
ton a small troop of soldiers was regu
larly detached from the midway post Of
Manzana, on the Rio Grande, to meet
The mail boy at a certain point OF the
route at which he always halted and
to escort him over that part OF the road
which was considered unsafe.
The spot in question was generally
reached after nightfall. 1t so happened
that the officer in charge of the troops
was Sergeant William j. Graves, who
afterward became prominent as 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-
sions 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 sergeant resolved to strike
ahead and meet Adams on the highway.
As usual, the mail carrier halted. II
was after nightfall, but the big silver
moon made the night radiant and OBJ
jects could be distinguished clearly fol
considerable distance.
The horse was allowed to Craze about
and Adams sat down to rest. Then he
looked toward Manzana for the troopers
but they were nowhere to be seen. Soor
the horse pricked up its ears and moved
in frightened way toward its master
Adams knew what that meant, and
leading the animal to the cover of some
rocks he peered about and discovered tina
the redskins were quietly closing in OF
him from all sides.
Delay meant death. Adams put hi
carbine in order, sprang into his saddle
selected an opening in the Indian line
and, driving his spurs into his horse
side, made a desperate dash for life
. The Indians were mOmentarily dlscon
, certed by the bold movement. Adam
| used his carbine Oh the nearest OF tn
enemy, and despite a rain OF arrow
plunged through the line.
Just as he thought himself fairly il
the race to save his scalp, he saw ahea'
. of him in the pale light another band
, Indians that he had not calculated on
He whirled to one side, and then
chase against heavy odds began.
For ten miles the painted warrior
pursued him, gaining on him ever.
minute.
+ The arrows pierced his clothing; tn
Indian yells almost drowned the nois
( of the hoof beats of his steed. His hors
was wounded, but the faithful beas
still struggled on. The "a rounds of am
munition carried by the rider was al
most exhausted The horse fell dead.
At this juncture firing was hear
afar. The Indians were staid by sud
den terror.
Frank! Frank! Where are you?
D came powerful voice.
: "Here!'' cried the prisoner. An
through the hostile band Graves ha
burst his way, knocking Indians to tn
right and to the left. The Indians scat
tered like children before him.
, "Quick!' cried Graves, leaning ia
down from his saddle, extending hi
strong hand and locking it around the Ell
feebled hand Of young Adams. Swim
L eel.
s up behind" !,
3 Adams mounted behind the sergean,
The Indians did not recover from thei
surprise and shock of the young giant
charge until they were aware Of tw
!, whites on single horse riding away !
the moonlight at speed that mocke
E pursuit, riding away to be joined b
4 the troopers. San Francisco Call
p The LIGHT of the Moon.