Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-07
"REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD
STAGE DRIVER IN THE
BLACK HILLS COUNTRY

Creek. A great many people, both IL
the Black Hills and scattered all oyel
the country, will remember Vollmer
He was one of the intrepid men who
made a living on the plains freightins
between Deadwood and Pierre In the
latter part of the seventies, when it wa.
next to death itself TO travel on &C.
count of redskins. Vollmer had a com.
plete outfit, and for dozen of yeaa
or more made regular trips back and
forth Vollmer was a great story teller
Every exciting venture was remembered
by him, and hundreds of people will
remember him for his stories alone.
AT one time Vollmer headed fol
Rapid City from the Cheyenne river
with three freight wagons loaded with
articles of various kinds for the miners
up the gluches around iDeadwood Al
one particular place, at Dry Greek. Vol
mer and all OF the other freighters had
been bothered repeatedly by Indians
who had excellent hiding in deep cut
through which the wagons had to pass
On this particular occasion Vollma
and his men nearly passed through TIT
cut and were congratulating themselves
on their good fortune in evading tn,
redskins. when suddenly there was a
yolley from a dozen rifles and two OF
Vollmer's oxen were killed and one OF
the drivers was hit in the arm. DARK
ness was coming on rapidly. Vollmer
made a halt and waited for darkness to
become more complete. In half an hour
man could not see his hand before
his face down in the cut VollmeI
had a unique plan in his head. Very
/ quietly he turned around two of his
wagons and hauled them back toward
the creek. All the time his men, those
that could be spared, kept up fire IN
front, keeping the attention of the In
dians were in for plumber more thar
they were for blood. He left one of his
three wagonsw heEesik}aea e<st stopped
Inside the great box, with its towering
canned goods, blankets, ETC., but be.
| meath all he placed three kegs of black
powder. Cutting a fuse, which would
last half an hour, Vollmer placed one
end in one of the powder kegs and
lighted the other end, and then every
body was Withdrawn down to the creek
10 iatp o. hG
| freighters was at first puzzler, but In
few minutes some of the ventured Out
to investigate. Two bucks crawled up
TO the deserted wagon and a piercing
screach to their fellows soon brought
them there, too. For the next few min
utes there was a scramble in the high
wagon box, each redskin being in fol
! plumber. Old Vollmer sat on the wagon
tongue of one of his freighters content.
eddy chewing straw.
There was a crash and jar that mads
things jog loose from their places for sew
eral miles around. In the darkness, Volt
mer and his men saw in the glaring flash
Indians flying through the air everywhere.
None of them alighted near them. If they
! did they did not show fight Voimer lost
an old freight wagon and a small amount
OF merchandise, but he always said that
1t was the easiest Indian fight he ever had,
the results being astonishing.
Another time, Vollmer was out making
trip of investigation around his camp.
| when he was suddenly jumped upon by a
lone buck, who thought he had him ur-
| awares. Voimer clutched with the red
skin, and with one stroke of his powerful
| fist felled his man. Whipping out a
| strong cord, Vollmer tied the Indians
hands and feet and carried him into camp.
| The buck was taken to deadwood, where
he was exhibited for several days. Final
| ~ he was placed on a horse, still bound
hand and foot, and turned loose. AT
fifty PAGES start, 100 rifles blazed away at
him, and about the third jump of the
horse the fellow fell off dead.
Vollmer had terrible experience once
when he was run into a cave in the bad
lands on White river by three Indians.
He had no more than got himself settled
for long campaign when he was star
tied by a growl and a snarl that made
even his blood run cold. Looking carefully
at his feet, in the dim light he could see
the tracks, fresh in the damp EARTH of q
bear.
Thar was bars behind me and Injuns
forninst me, and divil did know whut ter
do"
The animal in the den kept snarling and
Vollmer expected at any moment to feel
s! its grip Drawing shis sheath knife, he
waited for the spring. Looking steadily
into the darkness of the cave at the rear.
he made out two green eyeballs. Raising
his rifle he took careful aim and fired.
There was terrific growl, just one, and
everything was quiet. Vollmer then turn
| ed his attention to the redskins without
One daredevil raised his head above a
grass root, and promptly Vollmer nailed
e him. All day long he waited for another
r head to appear. but none showed up. Voll-
, mer dreaded the night He always dis
liked darkness. All night he watched al
Il the opening of his cave, but not thing
81 did he hear of his besiegers. When day
al light came he, took off his coat, stuffed
a few dry bundles Of grass inside. tok off
his cap, making a good image of man
Z This, in the glowing light, he held up al
| the end of pole at the cave entrance
y The report of two rifles from somewhere
told Vollmer only too well that he was be-
When darkness came the second time ht
I resolved to escape. 1t was a crawl fol
4 life. For two miles he went on hands
! and knees. Finally. reaching the dry bee