Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-28
IT RAINED AhnOWS.
YHE NARROW ESCAPE OF A MAIL CAR
RlER IN THE SOUTHWEST.

A Prominent San Francisco Attorney Rs
iates Thrilling Experience of His boy
hood-sergeant Graves Arrived IN TN,
Nick of Time.
Judge Francis Adams, now Sat
Francisco attorney, VAS one If the earlS
pioneers of the great west, and few al
the old timers have witnessed MGR,
thrilling occurrences or participated 4,
more exciting events than he.
Perhaps the nauowcst escape rTs.
haG, " said the judge few days ago, +,
recalling scenes that mtcdate the .cld
| discovery, was an encounter with hos.
tile Indians III the year 1917. And
here is the story. 1t reads nike 1T .,
after the lapse of 80 years:
In the above mentioned year AGan.
then boy Of II, was engaged in caY,.s
Ing military nail between II plao,
Tex, and Albuquerque, n Nj Tho
greater portion Of the country through
which he passed was desert VAST
One piece of the way was particularly
dargo rous, being in the vicinity e 3
frequent rpudCZyo Gus Of the Indians, and
for the mail carriers safety ana prCioc
ton small troop Of soldiers was IT gu.
larly detached from the midway post o.
Manzana, on the Rio Grande, 10 nee,
the mail boy at IA certain point of tn.
route at which he always halted AM
TO escort him over that part of tire lDad
which was considered unsafe.
The spot In question was generally
reached after nightfall. II SO happcnad
that the officer in charge of the troopp
was Sergeant william J. Graves. who
aftcrward became prominent as "a la,xyo,
III this state, and who has long since
Joined the silent majority Young
Graves was of herculean build, brave n
lion and as reckless az hc was brave.
Young Adams had on several occs.
slonS been hard pressed by savages, bu,
he was well mounted, and his steed had
always carried him through unsc;.thed.
No incident wC<th mentioning had
occurred for quite II little period, 80 that
upon one occasion Sergeart Graves felt
inclined 10 take matters rather icisurely.
Then, concluding that he would miss
the mail carrier if he rode 20 tho poi,5
Of rocks, the sergeant resolved 20 strike
ahead and meet Adams on the highway
As usual, the mail carrier halted. !;
was after nightfall, but the big silvc.
moon made the night radiant and CD.
jccts could be distinguished clearly foi
a considerable distance.
The horse was allowed 10 Craze about
and Adams sat down TO rest. Then he
looked toward ManZana for the troopers,
but they were nowhere 10 be seen. Soor
the horse pricked up its ears and riuved
III frightened way toward its mas;e-
Adams knew what that meant. arse
leading the animal 10 the cover of SONS
rocks he peerCd about and discoYcrcG .hG.
the redskins were quietly closing ~ o.
him from all sides
Delay meant death. Adams put his
carhlne III order Sprang into his saddle
selected an opening IN the Indian line.
and, driving his spurs into his horses
side, made u desperate dash for life
The Indians were momentarily discou.
,ertcd by the bold movement Adams
used his carbine on the nearest Of the
enemy, and despite rain Of arrows
plunged through the line
just rs lac thought himself fairly IL
he race to save his scalp, he saw ahead .
If him i'll the pale light another band Of .
Indians that he had not calculated on
&c whirled TO one side, and then
'hase 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
II the hoof beats of his steed His horse
vas wounded, bat the faithful beast
ill struggled ON. The 81 rounds Of am.
carried 10y the rider was al.
lo,t exhausted. The horse fell dead.
At this JuHcturc firing was heard
far. The Indians were staid by sud
cu terror.
Frank! Frank Where are you?'
anne q powerful VOICE.
u re! Cr.eo tic prisoner And
.n.Ish ,hc Nestle band Graves had
urst his Wy hacking Indians to the
'ght and e. tIy l.lt The Indians scat.
.td bike children i,'.io mm
'(-0 k!. cried tlaycs, leaning far
tvn from his saddle, extending his
81 y ha.d and Ic ing it around the en-.
.l!'d hanu OF young Adams Swing
, LchLdI
hCams mounted behind the sergeant
ho Indians did rot recover from their
I1ulls, aud shock of the young giants
barge until they were aware Of two
-hitcs on single horse riding away in
ne moonlight at a speed that Knocked
1rsu>, riding away to be joined by