Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-02-05
IT RAINED AI.i.OWS.
yHe NARROW ESCAPE OF A MAIL CAR
RlER IN The SOUTHWEST.
A Prominent San Frsn~isco Attorney Re
Iates IA Thriiling Experience 81 His Boy
hood--se- geans Graves arrived In the
Nick Of Time.

hood--se -geant Graves arrived In the
Nick 81 Time.
JudSe Francis Adams, now u San
Franco SEQ ait-aey, g, u oncC: the early
pior,'rs of tie great west, ANA few OF
the old timers have vitnc.Sod more
thrilling occurrence = or participated in
more excitii. az ms than he.
p rhaps the nacrowest ESCAPE ever
had, " said thc judge few days ago. in
recalling sCc..os that antcdate the gold
discovery, was al encounter with hos
tile Indians i'll the year ls41 And
here is the story II reads like tic il
after the lapse of 80 years;
in the above mentioned year Adams
then boy of II. was engaged in carry
ing military ma. between Fl Paso
Tex. and Albuquerque, y N The
greater portion OF the country through
which he passed was desert waste
, One piece ot the way 10, -. -l...y
dangerous, LeiNg in t. vii. r OF =
frequent rendezvous Of t..- India. :. and
for the mail carriers E..cty luu re, g..
! ton small troop e soldiers WG> r2-u.
larry detached from Ia midday l.os II
Mariana, OH the EiO Gr..-G., % meet
the mail boy at il certain point cf the
route at which ho always t'tod and
20 escort him OVER tat part OF the road
which was considered unsafe.
The spot IL ql.eS.!Cn Mas generally
reached after nighyfail IL 50 happened
t,i,lt the officer III charge Of the troops
was Sergeant William J Graves. who
atterward became prominent as ii Law yer
IN this state, and who has long since
Joined the silent majority Young
Graves was Of herculean build. brave as
lion and as reckless is hc 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 ne rode 10 the point
of rocks, the sergeant resolved TO strike
7
A usual, the mail carrier halted 1t
was after nightfall, but the big silver
moon MADE the night radiant and OBJ
jccts could be distinguished clearly for
considerable distance.
The horse was allowed 70 Craze about
and Adams sat down TO rest Then he
looked toward Mariana for the troopers,
but they were nowhere TO toe 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 10 the cover of some
rocks he peered about and discovered that
the redskins were quietly closing in on
him from all sides.
Delay meant death. Adams put his
carbine III order, sprang into his saddle,
selected an opening iii the Indian line,
and driving his spurs into his horse =
side, made desperate dash for life
The Indians We're momentarily discOn-
certcd by the bold movement. Adams
used his carbinc on the nearest of the
enemy, and despite rain of arrows
plunged through the line
just rs he.thOught himself fairly in
the race to save his scalp, he saw ahead
of him i'll the pale light another band Of
Indians that he had not calculated on
lie whirled to one side, and then o
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 ycils almost drowned the noise
of the hOof beats of his stecd His horse
was wounded, but the faithful beast
still struggled on The Ga rounds Of am
munition carried by the rider was al
most exhausted The horse fell dead.
AT this juncture firing was heard
afar. The Indians were staid by sud
den terror.
Frank Frank! Where are YOU"
came powerful voice.
Here cried the prisoner And
through the hostile band Graves had
turst his way, knocking Indians to the
right and to the left. The Indians scat
tered like children before him
Quick cried Graves, leaning far
down from his saddle, extending his
strong hand and locking it around the en-
fecbled hand of young Adams Swing
up behindp'
Adams mounted behind the sergeant.
The Indians aid not recover from their
surprise and shock of the young giants
charge unil they were aware of two
whites on single horse riding away in
the moonlight at II speed that Knocked
pursust, riding away TO Dc joined by
the troopers. San Francisco Call
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