The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-02-06
CHASED BY COYOTES.


did ! ever tell you Of an expert
enee l had with coyotes near Tore
on?" asked Capt John Clayton, an Off
I cial Of the Mexican international rail-
road, while talking with a party Of
friends at the Zaragoza Plaza. His
friends shook their heads and then
proceeded to settle themselves down
for good story. Capt Clayton or
dered a round Of Iron Brew and then
proceeded with his yarn.
Ten years ago I had charge Of the
building oft the bridges between Tore
on and Durango he began. 81 had
my office at Torreon, and / kept
fharp lookout for the construction of
DD(the bridges and culverts, right up with
the grading, as all of us were doing
our level best to have the road COM
pleted into Durango by the middle of
September so that the railroad COM
pany could run its first train into that
city on the 15theof September, 1892
the cd birthday Of President Porfrio
Diaz.
A CAS- the bridgemen kept right up
with the graders, who were at that
time within five miles of the city
of Durango, I felt sure that we would
have everything completed by the
14th.
AT p. m. on the 7th | was sit
ting at my desk in the office, making
out my reports. I felt rather drowsy,
as I had done hard days work. AS
/ pored over the papers I kept wish
ing that something would turn up to
relieve the monotony of struggling
yth those figures. Suddenly the tele-
Faph instrument in the office began
clicking out a message for me to
hasten to the front at once.
Il telegraphed back and asked,
What is the matter? What 10 you
want? But l could not receive an
answer. then concluded that some
thing serious must have happened,
so instructed Pat, the night watch
y ito get out my velocipede, and
clSA 4 started down the track
"The moon was in it's first quarter
and not cloud was in sight, while
the stars in the armament sparkled
brightly. 1t was a beautiful night, a
aIglorious night-just one of those
nights that are never seen or enjoyed
lslp any other part Of the American con-
ythlhent outside of the States of Nuevo
i Leon, Coahuila and Durango.
4 when I mounted the velocipede I
felt that I would have fair going and
by sunrise would reach the last
bridge that had been completed. This
bridge was $50 miles away.
IL Il was N good shape when I pulled
out4 and everything went along
sm thly until l passed the San Car
s3iding. When I passed that point
saw some dark objects crossing the
sack a few hundred yards ahead of
gme. I judged by their actions that
they were pack of coyotes that were
out hunting fc lething to eat, and
that they were not at all particular
Awhat they came across.
Il was alone, and realized that if
they attacked me I would not stand
mt n of a show with them, as l was
unaned, I made up my mind at once
that the only chance I had for my
life was to rush right through them
and when I got clear of them to worl
the velocipede for all it was worth.
did SO. and as I rushed through then
they ade a dash for me, but missed.
passed clear Of them they
set up the most terrific bowling that
ever heard and caused the hair OF
my head to stand on end and thC
cold chills to crawl up and down my
spinal column. It was that inferno
hoR&pg that was the cause Of my be
conf prematurely old and my hal
o aa5 atahors to become as white a
sAs they caught up With me som'
80 them rushed past. They snapped
my legs and attempted to bite me
I kepf1gm2rbing the velocipede wit
ana leet 'as- hard as could, as
49, I was then engaged and cor
with the most cold-bloode
bsl beasts that were eve
Sand turned loose upon thi
4 time L reached the 30-mil
of them attempted to sprin
z&elocipede, but he missed
front of it, and the wheel