The sun., 1897-12-05
JIM CALL,S PRESENTIMENT.
II Proved True. and Came Tn Time to Save the
Overland stage ana PASSENGERS.

ONerihuo StbEe anu Fassengerh
"A few very old people remember Jim Call,
who was an overland stage driver way back in
the tifties,'' said Ansel Newman of Washington,
who revisited New Mexico recently after an
absence Of thirty years. "In Albuquerque last
month met an old Mexican named Tafoya,
who used to be n herder of stage stock when l
travelled in New Mexico, and he asked me-
after little talk, II l remembered Jim Call and
how his dream was the means Of saving the
stage and passengers at Red River Station forty
years ago. Other old timers spoke to me of the
same subject for I was ono Of the passenger
on the stage when the thing happened.
Jim Call was frst.class man who had held
the rcins for three years on the overland, which
was pretty good while for driver to keep
alive in those days. His route was the last
stretch cast of Las Vegas at the time speak of,
and on this June morning was sitting beside
him on the box as the stage rolled westward,
due to reach Las Vegas that evening at o
o'clock. There was full load of passengers
ten men and two women. as l repember-and
three men besides myself were on the outside
Il had known Jim Call for years aud I no.
ticed that he was abstracted and silent this day.
He attended carefully to his driving and said
little to me until we stopped at noon at a stage
station for dinner. After we had eaten and
while the horses were being hitched up he spoke
to me of what was in his mind.
" I've got the queerest notion about the next
sta aiOn-the Red River Station he said with
sort OF shamefaced air, for an overland stage
driver hated worst of anything to confess to a
feeling of apprehension. I've been looking for
Indians every time drove up there for the last
| three trips. I've dreamed about 'cm nights
| that was driving up to the station with Fried
| rchs. the keeper. waiting for me holding the
relay horses by the heads-and then when I'd
got, TO where ia seen him standing there was
m In Int
| hostile. This is In confidence and not to be re-
peated-bnt do you believe there's any truth in
| ing something that is going to come about that
you don't know by your reason or any ones in
~ reckon not, jim answered, and so far
as dreams signify I've always heard that they
this and see if they don't take on % a brighter
COLOR, and ndsdld passed him my whisksy flask
| tho flask, and passed ii back to me. The effect
Of the Whiskey was to make him trife more
cheerful 6nt he looked ed grave and anxious as
There was something little odd in the ap-
IDENTIFY had been driven to the corral. A. for m they
We're not grazing anywhere in view. hut
ing should have appeared ieading them out in
harness, was nowhere to be seen. The driver
was was silent md md watchful vat as we drew near the
| station, holding the horses carefully in hand.
in tho utter silence and loneliness OF the place.
round 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
That's Friedrich's dog he said. There s
something wrong 81 at the station, or he'd never
act this way. III get on the safe side of the
guleh again before try to find out
THE dog was covering under tho stage.
round san t.o, Hardly had he turned their head
five or thirty Indians streamcd out into view,
armed with bows, with gun or two amonl;
them. and ran for the stage. At the same time
as many more that had been concealed in the
gmch sprang to their feet and ran TO head us
Off, Cali knew his business, and he put the
stage and horses across tho gulch in hurry,
but there was not thirty yards between us and
the nearest Indians rs we came UP on the
further bank, and tho arrows were flying thick
A half dozen arrows struck the conch and a
passenger got one in the arm, but fortunately
none OF the horses was disabled. We had q
which we set to going, and We hAd the pleas
, urc Of seeing one Indian 20 down nat on his
Iaee @ before the horses pulled us out OF danger
We went back to the station where we had haI
dinner, and from there courier was despatched
, to Las Vegas with tidings of what had hap
pened, and next morning an escort Of citizent
i dams were 10 be seen along tho route.
AT the Red River station Friodrichs' th'
mutilated and the horses had been stolen
,, The Indiana, Picarilla Apaches. hnd surpriset
ana killed them and then prepared TO take y
of the band waited behind the corral. whl
the others stole along the gulch to cut OF Il;
retreat. There Is little doubt that their plal
r unusual suspicion and watchfulness OF IN
. stage driver inspired by his untccountahl
presentimcnt OF what actually came TO pass q
A | the station. Jim Call was still driving on III
| overland route ns late AS 1865. ana he wa
= | still alive and handling the reins III Dakota i
n the tirlc of the BLACK lills excitement In 1870.