Cañon City record., 1911-08-24

the other day, Ireached the settle
ment now known as the railroad town
of Benson dead broke after pros
pecting down through Colorado.
Sitting on my blankets at the adobe
Mexican store man from California
Schaefellin brothers, who owned the
James Nixon, saying he was connected
with the postal department. He said
that he had great trouble in getting
men to carry mails because of the risk
of life in the work. Several mail car
riers had been killed by Apache and
Mariconas and it had frightened other
men from succeeding to the job.
"The opening of the Tombstone
mines had made the mail routes the
more important and Gird and the
ate 1 accepted the job. They pay for
Tombstone properties, had offered S25
a trip extra to any rider who would
carry the mail from Rincon, New Mex
leo, to Tombstone distance across
country of about $50 miles. In min
at Benson said, Il was the biggest
the years service was to be about
$4,000, l believe. A dozen cowpunchers
at Benson said l was the biggest
chump going, and that I never would
make three trips that the Apaches
were thick in the very region l must
travel. l must confess l was pretty
sure when l went to Tombstone to
get my horse and to get final instruc-
tions and credentials as mail carrier
that sealed my fate at the hands of
the most frightful savages on the con-
tinent, but had signed contract and
it had to go.
Because of the hot weather, it
was thought best that / should ride
as much as possible at night and
there was less danger. Imagine my
feelings when l started on a fiery
broncho for the mining camp of Tomb
stone one evening in August on my
first ride over the mail route across
a, sunburned hills. had grub
enough for three days and was armed
with a carbine and two pistols. 1t
was soft, calm night. The stars
never seemed quite so bright and
cheerful. | peered about me for the
least indication of Indian signals.
never heard sounds so accurately.
felt my pistols times without num-
ber. fancied heard some one rustl-
ing the parched grass along the trail
and started when my horse brushed
against the chapparal. Everything I
had ever heard about the covert ap-
proaches of indians upon their VIC
tins came to my imnd as my horse
galloped or loped away. But not an
Incident occurred the whole night.
Next morning l stopped at a Mex
lean camp, where a fresh horse was
procured. After resting until early
afternoon, and after being warned to
be constantly on my guard lest |
be pcunced upon by the Apaches
started out. l passed Fort Bowie off
at the south about twenty miles and
followed the trail northward towards
the new Mexican line. All went we'll
until late in that evening. The night
was very dark. Suddenly my horse
stopped. | almost pitched forward.
Then the animal snorted and paved.
l clutched my pistol and a thousand
and one thoughts shot through my
mind. My spurs were stuck into the
horses flanks but it was of no use
Then something gray was seen lying
close beside the trail.
There was nothing to be done but
lead my horse around it. dared not
leave the uncertain trail in the dark
ness and in a strange country. Dis
mounting and holding the horses
bride in one hand and pistol in the
other, | felt about the ground with my
feet for what was there. Horrors!
felt the hard stiff body Of dead man.