The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-01


times, and lots were drawn, there be-
ing twelve lucky numbers. About 3,
on July day, California Charlie"
cracked his whip over the heads Of his
leaders and the start was made across
the Wilderness which lay between Gus
ter and Cheyenne.
Everything went we'll until the stage
coach reached an old creek bed, few
miles out of Custer. Here, without
moments warning, band OF Indians,
in war paint, sprang from ambush.
and commenced pouring a heavy fire
upon the coach and passengers. Call
fornia Charlie" piled his whip and there
was a run OF few miles, with the In
dians in hot pursuit. The driver sud
denly dropped over in his seat and fell
into the boot of the coach, dead. a bull
let havlng gone through his head. The
horses came TO standstill and stood
waiting for a word from the driver.
The Indians came up behind the
coach ON a mad run. and in a moment
the coach was surrounded. The twelve
passengers were numb with fright
Some sat like blocks of stone Others.
with more grit. attempted TO shoot out
OF the coach windows at the lodging
Indians IL seemed 10 be the delight
of the redskins 10 tease their prisoners.
They would ride up near the coach and
fire directly nj the passengers, care
being taken. seemingly. that the bullets
penetrate q coat sleeve, hat or seat
cushion.
Finally, two OF the Indians dsmount-
sd from their ponies. and going up to
the horses ON the coach. cut them loose,
and with a wild yell drove the fright
ened team with harness on away. That
was the last seen OF the Indians or the
horses.
The Messengers walked twelve miles
back 10 Custer. a posse pursued the
Indians. but their start had been too
good. Next day the coach was brought
hack to Custer for a fresh start for
Cheyenne, the trip being accomplished
without any trouble.
The same coach made frequent trips
10 Custer during the summer Of 1876.
and on September ~ Of the same year.
the first run was made into DeadwoOd.
The distance from DeadwOod TO Chey-
enne was about 600 miles. through an
Intensely hostile country. As soon as
The stage route was thoroughly estab-
Ushed. traffic became heavy For a
/ number Of years up TO 1881, all OF the
/ bullion from the Homcstake Company
,nlno was shipped out under heavy
! guard by this stage route. 1t was a
| reriIbus trip 20 make with the rich gold
! bricks. and nervy men went with the
| driver as guards.
|
| Transportati0u Company, organized
ur der the laws ~ Minnesota, with "
! plakoiv az president, and g. w. Car.
| penter as secretary and treasurer. com,
| rnercod running daily line of stage
coaches IN May. lS,5 from bismarck
| where connection was made with th'
| Northern Pacific Railway company
! Tho line VAS transferred in 1850 from
/ gieryarck TO Pierre. whore 20 connected
| With Tho Chicago and Northwestern
railway. and IN 1856 70 made connection
! with fhe Fremont Elthorn and Mis-
souri valley railroad at Chadron. Neh
rhe company established a nue line -
concord coaches between Pierre an,
Daadwtod i'm 1850. and the compan,
! carried an avernge of l00O passenger
yearly and n ono 600 mounds of cXures
and hagrnge. Tho iTomeT axe bullio
r,s carried by this lire Tor the year
1881 and lS~'. Tho Comunny employee
20 men. 500 horses ma 200D oxen.
The coming 81 Tho railroads o. th
! glnpk Hills mnpkcd zoe i"cNnt 4 th
stnge coach and the different lines Ner
soon devoid of traffic.