Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-05-29
A FRONTIER EPISODE,

A FRONTIER EPISODE
We sat in the little frontier hotel a
Pine Ridge Agency that stormy De
cember night In 80. There were ,
number of us-all newspaper CORES
pondents-and few interpreters, Of
icers and reservation employees. TIT
days previous had been full Of excite
ment, for the Brule and Ogallala Sioul
were engaged In the Ghost Dance Oh
Messiah Craze. About the Agency
General Miles had grouped some 1906
troops; beyond their white tents clus
tered the dingy tepees Of the Indians
some 800 Of them.
We greatly enjoyed these evenings
In the hotel. They brought back to
memory pictures Of the old West-stag.
Ing, buffalo hunting, Indian fighting.
And what fund of information the
scouts, interpreters and "old timers''
poured into our willing ears! Each
one could have talked all night and yet
left the narration of his experiences
unfinished then. We were especially
interested In the singular career Of b.
He had left home In Connecticut, and
after varied experiences In Iowa and
Nebraska Joined company Of miners
and with them entered the new min
Ing camp Of Deadwood. He was then
but seventeen years old. That same
winter he carried the first mail out Of
Deadwood to the Missouri River.
B. Joined our circle while a scout was
relating some experiences with stage
robbers in the early seventies, and i'm
mediately entered into the converse
ton.
80 far as | know the smoothest
trick, prompted by 4 desire to save
money ever played upon stage rob-
bers occurred near Miles City In 70. A
load Of passengers were almost within
sight Of the town. They had been
travelling all day and were worn out,
for the roads were awful bad in those
days and all coaches bounced and
sWayed very much. Having come
near their journeys end they were con-
themselves. Hold-ups had
been frequent. Two heavily armed
messengers accompanied each coach,
with orders to fire on any person act
Ing suspiciously.
Dear mel said an elderly man
near the door, I'm glad we are SAFE
| have about $500 and If | lost it
don't know where l could get more
81 can get plenty of money said
travelling salesman, but the loss of
what | have would put me to much
trouble out here among strangers
1.-Two miners and a prospector, each
with large rolls, expressed their salts
action at passing dangerous points
'afely. The next speaker was little
bid woman, kind and motherly in her
ways.
my boy has started restaurant
u town and Is doing well. He wanted
ne to come and help, so here | am,
'odness knows far enough away from
lear old Ohio. l thought he would
iced his mother, for these mining
owns are wild, | hear, and full of
emptations. | have only 5000. It's
III the cash have in the world. Fear
ng robbers have put it in a place
where no one would think of looking.
lou cannot guess where" OF course
he guesses were all wrong.
well, l have four $50 bills against
he sole Of my foot inside my left
hOep
"'Capltaly said the elderly gentle
ian. No one would ever think of look
lg of money in your shoes In the
ar corner at the front sat a small slen-
er, black-halred man. He kept be-
ween his feet little black vallse. No
ne spoke to him during the journey
nd he made no sound save occasional.
to cough In 4 peculiar manner. Some
the passengers thought him to be 4
Even when general
prevailed he took no
art in the conversation. Making bold.
he old lady said:
"And you; what would you do IL you
ere held up?'
"A hollow cough and a shrug Of the
was all his reply.
What mean fellowp thought the
ID gentleman. At this instant the
zach lurched violently to one side and
ang, bang, came the sudden reports
the guns! One messenger was
rot, the other compelled to throw up
Is hands before time for resistance,
I'd CONSERVATION and terror prevailed
thin the coach.
" Lord, Lordv prayed the elderly
an.
"'Oh, dear, oh, dearr cried the
oman.
" Hustle up there, git out, and one
the robbers held the door open with {
q left hand while he covered the mas.