The St. Mary banner., 1903-03-07
CHASED BY COYOTES.

|
did l ever tell you Of an expert
ence | had with coyotes Eea: Tore
on!' asked Capt. John Clayton, an off
cial OF the Mexican international rail
road, while talking with a party O
friends at the Zaragoza Plaza. Hi!
friends shook their heads and ther
proceeded to settle themselves dowr
Tor a good story. Capt. Clayton Or
dered round of Iron Brew and tnel
proceeded with his yarn.
Ten years ago l had charge of th
building Of the bridges between Tore
on and Durango" he began. II hal
my office at Torreon, and l kept !
sharp lookout for the construction d
the bridges and culveris, right up witt
the grading, as all Of us were doing
our level best to have the road con-
pleted into Durango by the middle d
September. SO that the railroad con-
pany could run its first train into that
city on the 18th of September. 1S9.,
the CID birthday Of President Porfiro
Diaz.
"As the bridgemen kept right Up
with the graders, who were at that
timc within five miles of the ely
OF Durango, felt sure that we would
have everything completed by he
14th.
AT 8 p. m. on the 7th l was dt-
ting at my desk in the Office, making
out my reports. l felt rather drowsy,
as | had done hard days work. As
! pored over the papers l kept with
ing that something would turn up 10
relieve the monotony Of struggling
with those figures. Suddenly the tele-
graph instrument in the Office began
clicking out message for me to
hasten to the front at once.
Il telegraphed back and asked,
What is the matter? What do you
want?' But l could not receive an
answer. then concluded that some
thing serious must have happeied,
so | instructed Pat, the night watch
man. to get out my velocipede, and
eAAsSA ! SS0AtCO uoNA Tic II az N.
The moon was in it's first quarter
and not cloud was in sight, while
the stars in the armament sparkled
brightly. 1t was beautiful night, a
glorious nfght-just one of those
nights that are never seen or enjoyed
In any other part of the American con-
tinent outside of the States of Nuevo
Leon, Coahuila and Durango.
When l mounted the velocipede
felt that l would have fair going and
by sunrise would reach the last
bridge that had been completed. This
bridge was $50 miles away.
4 was in good shape when l pulled
out, and everything went along
smoothly until passed the San Car
los siding. When passed that point
saw some dark objects crossing the
track few hundred yards ahead OF
me. I judged by their actions that
they were pack Of coyotes that were
out hunting for something to eat, and
hat they were not at all particular
what they came across.
j was alone, and realized that if
hey attacked me | would not stand
much of show with them, as l was
lnarMed. l made up my mind at once
hat the only chance l had for my
ife was to rush right through them.
md when got clear of them to work
he velocipede for all it was worth.
lid SO, and as l rushed through them
hey made a dash for me, but missed.
s'As | passed clear of them they
ct up the most terrific bowling th&t
yer heard, and caused the hair on |
ny head to stand on en1 and the
old chills to crawl up and down my
pinal column. 1t was that Internal
owling that was the cause of my be-
oming prematurely old and my hair
nd whiskers TO become as white as
now.
AS they caught up with me some
them rushed past. They snapped
my legs and attempted to bite me;
uit kept working the velocipede with
ands and feet as hard as could. as
1T that | was then engaged ard con-
ending with the most ccld-bloodei
nd cruel beasts that were ever
'eated and turred loose upon this
nth.
by the time reached the 30-mile
,st. one of. them attempted to spring
pom the yelocipede, but he missed it
ID fell in front Of It. aud the .rlse!s