The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-02-08
A PERILOJJS JOURNEY
THE FIRST STAGE TRIP BETWEEN
CHEYENNE AND CUSTER.
There Was No Trouble on the Run
Out, but the Indians Whooped 1t
Up In Mad Fashion on the Attempt
to Make the Return Passage.

| Out, nut the Indians "hOOpeu IL
Up In Mad Fashion on the Attempt
to Make the Return Passage.
AT the side Of one Of the main thor.
Dughfares Of the present Deadwood there
stands an old, broken down, WORKOUT
btagecoach which has history of hsto-
ries. 1t is loved by many an old timer
in the Black Hills because it was the
first messenger between the western line
of civilization and their newly acquired
home among the rugged mountains. 1t
was some time after the first man enter
ed the hills before n regular stagecoach
| was put on between any Of the cities
along the border of civilization and the
Black Hills mining camps.
During the year 1876, two years after
the arrival of the Russell expedition at
| Custer, the organization of the Cheyenne
and Black Hills stage line was effected
and the first stagccoach was sent out
from Cheyenne for Custer. The Indians
were unusually troublesome at that time,
and the proprietors Of the stage company
were fearful lest their venture might
come to 4 disastrous end because of the
ravagcs of the redskins.
One day in the summer of 1876 this
first stagccoach was started out from
Cheyenne with load of passengers and
baggage and with the famous driver,
california Charlie" and four strong
horses. A constant lookout was kept for
Indians throughout the journey, but there
was no incident worthy of mention on the
long trim and tho cpucb 70 ohaI fan
City in safety. The miners of that camp
went wild over the event, and the town
turned out that night for a genuine celc.
bration.
The following day "Calfornia Charlie"
who had kept level head during the fes.
tivities of the night previous. made prep
arations for Il return trip to Cheyenne.
There were enough would be passengers
to fill the coach several times. and lots
were drawn, there being Il lucky num-
bers. About o'clock 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 Custer and Cheyenne.
Everything went well until the stage
coach reached an old creek bed few
miles ont Of Custer. Here, without
moments warning, band of Indians in
war paint sprang from ambush and COM
menced pouring in heavy fire upon the
coach and passengers. california Char
lie" piled his whip, and there was a run
Of few miles, with the Indians in hot
pursuit. The driver suddenly dropped
over in his seat and fell into the boot of
the coach dead bullet having gone
through his head. The horses came to a
standstill and stood waiting for word
from the driver.
The Indians came up behind the coach
on mad run, and in a moment the coach
was surrounded. The II passengers
were numb with fright Some sat like
blocks Of stone. Others with more grit
attempted to shoot out of the coach win
dows at the lodging Indians. 1t seemed
to be the delight Of the redskins to tease
their prisoners. They would ride up near
the coach and fire directly at the passen-
gers, care being taken seemingly that the
bullets penetrate coat sleeve, hat or
seat cushion.
Finally two of the Indians dismountcd
from their ponies and going up TO the
horses on the coach cut them loose aud
with wild yell drove the frightened
teams, with harness on, away. That
was the last seen Of the Indians or the
horses.
The passengers walked IL miles back
to Custer. A posse pursued the Indians,
but their start had been too good. Next
day the coach was brought back to Gus
ter for fresh start for Cheyenne, the
trip being accomplished without any trou-
Bile.
The same coach made frequent trips to
Custer during the summer of 1876. and
on Sept % Of the same year the first run
was made into Dcadwood. The distance
from Deadwood to Cheyenne was about
300 miles. through an intensely hostile
country. As soon ms the stage route was
thoroughly established traffic became
heavy. For number OF years, up TO
1881, all of the bullion from the Home
stake company's mine was shipped out
under heavy guard by this stage route.
1t was perlous trip to make with the
gold bricks, and nervy men went with
the driver as guards.
Tee Northwestern Express, Stage and
company, organized under |
the laws Of Minnesota, with II. Blakey i
w
rotary and treasurer, commenced running |
n daily line OF stagccoachcs in May,
1877, from Bismarck, where connection
was made with the Northern Pacific rail
way company. The line was transferred
in 1880 from Bismarck to Pierre. where
it connected with the Chicago and North |
western railway, aud in 1856 it made con-
nection with the Fremont, Elkh0rn and |
Missouri Valley railroad at Chadron,
Neb. The company established a fine line
Of Concord coaches between Pierre and
Deadwood in 1880 and the company
carried an average of 5000 passengers
yearly and 100000 pounds of express
and baggage. The Homestake bullion
was carried by this line for the years
1851 and 1852. The company employed
200 men, GOO horses and 1900 oxen.
The coming of the railroads to the
Black Hills marked the decline Of the
and the different lines were
sODn 1pvoju of tro flin N i1o po FrriLunn |