Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-25
I'm CALLS sReseHrImESr.
Il Proved True. and Came In Time 10 Save The
Overland Stage and Passsnstrs.

"A few very old people remember
Jim Call, who was an overland stage
driver way back in the SOS, said Ansel
Newman Of Washington, who revisited
New Mexico recently after on absence
of 30 years. In Albuquerque last month
I met an old Mexican named Tafoya,
who used to be q herder Of stage stock
when / travelled in New Mexico, and
he asked me, after a little talk, II
/ remembered Jim Call and how his
dream was the means Of saving the
stage and passengers at Red River sta
ton 40 years ago. Other old-timers
spoke to me of the same subject, for
was one of the passengers on the stage
when the thing happened.
Jim Call was first-ciass man who
had held the reins for three years on
the overland, which was a pretty good
while for driver to keep alive in those
days. His route was the last stretch
east OF Las Vegas at the time / speak
Of, and on this June morning ! was
setting beside him on the box as the
stage rolled westward, due to reach
Las Vegas that evening at 9 O'Clock.
There was a full load of passengers
10 men and two women, as remember
and three men besides myself were
on the outside.
Il had known Jim Call for years and
noticed that he was distracted and
silent this day. He attended carefully
TO his driving and said little to me I'M
til we stopped at noon at a stage sta
ton for dinner. After we had eaten
and while the horses We're being
hitched up he spoke to me Of what was
in his mind.
- I've got the queerest notion about
the next station-the Red River sta
tion'-he said with a sort Of shame
faced air, for an overland stage driver
hated worst of anything to confess to
a feeling of apprehension. We
dreamed ABOUT EN- nights-that l was
driving up to the station. with Fried
richs. the keeper, waiting for me hold
ing the relay horses by the heads-and
wasthen when I'd got to where I'd seen
him standing there was nothing but
Indians-bad ones. in war paint and
hostile. This is in confidence and not
TO be repeated-but do you believe
there's any truth in dreams: that
there's such a thing as foreknowing
something that is going to come about
that you don't know by your reason or
any ones Information
II reckon not. Jim.' / answered,
and SO far as dreams signify I've al
ways heard that they go by contraries
Look at your dreams through this and
see if they don't take on a brighter
color; and l passed him my whiskey
flash.
Call nodded to me. took a moderate
pull at the flask. and passed it back to
me. The eIlect of the whiskey was to
make him a trifle more cheerful but
he looked grave and anxious as we APP
preached the Red River station, which !
came into view while we We're two |
miles away. There was something
a little odd in the appearance of the |
place. The relay horses evidently had
been diven to the corral, for they We're
not grazing anywhere in view but
F'riedrichs. the station keeper, who at
our coming should have appeared lead |
ing them out in harness. was nowhere
to be seen. The driver was silent and
watchful as we drew near the station,
holding the horses carefully in hand, |
and even l began to feel something
illness of the place.
The stage had crossed a gulch that
led around the rear of the corral to the
river. and was about 200 yards from the !
station when a little dog came out Of |
the hollow and made for the stage.
running as if badly frightened. Call |
pulled up his horses.
That's Friedrich's dog he said |
There's something wrong at the sta
ton, or he'd never act this way III !
get on the safe side of the gulch again |
before | try to find out
The dog was covering under the I
stage. looking fearfully back as Call |
swung the horses round. Hardly had !
he turned their heads when from he !
hind the station and corral % or % |
Indians streamed cut into view, armed |
with bows. with a gun of two among |
them, and ran for the stage At the |
same time as many more that had been
concealed in the gulch sprang to their |
feet and ran to head us off. Call knew |
his business. and he put the stage and |
horses across the gulch in hurry. but /
there was not so yards between us and |
the nearest Indians as we came UP on .
the further bank and the arrows wers
flying thick y half dozen arrows /
struck the coach. and a passenger got
one in tie arm. but fortunately none |
of the horses We're disabled. We had /
q rifle and three or four revolvers /
among us which we set to going, and !
we had the pleasure of seeing one IN !
dian go down fiat on his face before TIE ,
horses pulled US out of danger. We /
went back to the station where we had !
had dinner. and from there a courier
was dispatched to Las Vegas with |
tidings Of What had happened and next /
morning, an escort OF citizens arrived /
to guard the stage through No M !
dians were to be seen along the route. /
AT the Red River station, Freid |
richs. the keeper. and his helper, We're
found dead and mutilated. and the |
horses had been stolen. The Indians. |
Picarilla Apaches. had surprised and |
killed them and then prepared to take |
in the stage on it's arrival On its APP |
pearance half of the band waited be- |
hind the corral while the others stole
along the gulch to cut off its retreat
There is little doubt that their plan