The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-05-30

THE OVERLAND TRAIL
BY M. Quad
Copyright, 1900, by c. II. Lei

Copyright, 1900, by c. b. Lc,cts. Y
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In the old days of the overland trail,
the pony express and the numbering
stagecoach stage stations had been
erected at a distance OF Is miles apart
throughout the length OF the whole trail.
After the first 30 miles from the Mis-
souri, river no coach was safe from at
tack until 1t reached San Francisco. 1t
was missioner To say the stations
We're erected" Most of them were
dugouts-that IL, II hole or cellar four
or five feet deep was dug and then
covered with slabs OF timber to sup
port two feet of dirt. The stables were
made In the same way, while the hay
was stacked. There was generally an
underground passage leading from the
house TO the stables. House and sta
bles We're loopholed for rifles. the doors
constructed of timber or covered with
boiler iron, and there was not one of
them which was not attacked dozen
times over. The Indians could not use
fire rs weapon, nor could they carry
station by assault. but they captured
many of them by triclSery or siege. In
no case was tho life of company en-
ployee ever spared. The distance be-
tween stations, with the feeble CART
son maintained at each, prevented any
| hope of relief In case of attack Indeed
| the orders were: "Dcfend your own
station. Only the last man alive IL TO
break through the Indians If he can"
Never were greater hardihood and
bravery exhibited than by the men Sc
iected To drive the coaches Knowing
what the risks WERE IT seems strange
that any passengers could have been
found 10 I'LL them, but In the last two
years preceding the opening of the Pa
clflc road the coaches averaged five
passengers each Way, md many of
these were women. At few points on
the long route n guard rode for II few
miles with the conchcs, but for most
of the distance the driver and passcn=
gers must take care of themselves
| There was hardly week without Its
| tragedy. As tho stage tolled through
| the heavy sand Of some strip OF desert
| or met several miles of stony and up
hill trail band of hundred yelling
| warriors would suddenly appear. The
| driver must fight as well as guide his
excited team. The passengers fired
from the open doors, and If the attack
was beaten off II was ease OF luck. II
was when the Overland company final.
ly appealed to the government TO clear
its route through Kansas that General
Custer was sent out with brigade OF
troopers Fourteen stations had been
attacked and wiped out, and stages
had ceased to run over distance of
almost 200 miles. Custer could not
hope to strike telling blow against
the hordes in the field. but he laid his
plans TO open the route and drive tho
Indians back from It. Az we followed
the trail to the west we picked up sta
ton nfter station showing grewsome
sights. In each and every ease stout
defense had been made, but tho lndl-
ans had prevailed. Kegs of powder
had been used TO blow open the doors
or tear out the roofs, and even though
tho warriors had lost ten to one they
had destroyed the station. Burning
Hill was relay station, with eight
men TO guard IL ahu cure ior 'iie eA'rn
horses me iast Stage from the Gust
had come III aIter rhce Oh hVe h'iies'
win the driver ana three iiluie p"Sseh'
gers Wouhded-sohe ot 'hehi t"ice
ana three times IL was one % the i'ir-
gest ana most deiehSlni S'atiohs On
the route ana tlere WIS no .houBn'
| OF anything but beating the Indians
~ fat. t.slnt ihntr fnran
OH, no fnat'er what 'heir iorc'.
clusters Whoie coh'iluhu Wi'pesseu
the arrival OF 'he ihst hthge from the
west, the inst Tor seVerhi Weehs' y rom
hilllop 'hree mics irolii 'he 'r"i'
win lhhpasSupie Ruii'es pe'Weeh' we
saw me cohch come up the trah WIN
loo lhulahs pursuing H. IT WAS run
ming hSht' "h'ch "rouSeu every 'il"h
10 the hlgheh' pi.ch Oh excitement put