Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-07
Misesllaneuus &eaaias.
MANY ADVENTURES.
ast of Overland Stage Drivers Tells
of Sopoa Pidae

the tTdll IOT Indll anu EXPRESS cOdCIes
from the western terminus of tht
railways at Fort Smith, Ark, into the
unconquered west, is now running al
elevator
In the records Of the express com
pany will be found the report of thi!
| trip of the 100. Organized in 1855, /
| was their duty to cover so much
ground daily, to record the distance
stocking them and thus paving tn,
way for the civilization which follow.
ed at their heels.
Few forts then were on the plain:
and while they stopped at each one
for supplies and friendly chat between
these widely separated Federal de.
pots, they drove and fought and build.
ed They prodded on their half fam.
ished beasts while showers Of Chero.
kee arrows whizzed above their heads
and sometimes into them. They cut
their way through the various ma
TONS of the redskins, filed slowly
through the dreaded Apache Pass and
forded turbulent streams In the midst
OF their frenzied enemies.
The route laid out led them in al
most a direct line for Ell Paso, through
the rough Usage country and crossed
the Arkansas river where 1t divides
the old Pawnee nation from the land
Of the Usage. Skirting the territory
of the Comanches, they were fore.
ed to throw up Notifications hastily to
withstand the fierce attacks Of the
barbarous hordes. They pulled out OF
that country safely to encounter
worse-the land of little water, alkali
and dusty sagebrush. Yet with the
cry of the coyote ringing in their ears
they sang as they went, ending with
the accomplishment Of their purpose
In 1857 the completed route, well
stationed and equipped, stood mon
ument to the work Of that band. For
two years they had struggled, and
while their achievement was Of Won
derful value to east and west, few
came out of the scathing we'll and
sound However, Billy Hodges was
young and fortunate. He had made
a record as a driver; he had the OPP
portunity thrust upon him and he
grasped 1t. He undertook to drive
the mail and express route from Tue
son to Pima village.
The run was about one hundred
miles, but extremely hazardous. Ban
dts were born Of the rapid develop
ment Of civilization and hostile Indi-
ans were everywhere. Danger was
plentifully distributed and six shoot
ers barked at silent arrows. On ar
irving at Pima village he released the
reins to another driver, who drove to
Fort Yuma and thence to Los Ange-
les. At Pima village Hodges receiv-
ed the coast mail and took 1t back to
Tucson, where he was met by anoth-
er driver, who carried it further east
to the station near the Apache Pass.
On a day early in 1885 Billy arriv-
ed at Pima village to discover that
the relay driver was long overdue.
Fearing trouble, he followed the Gus
tom Of driving into the other mans
territory until the shadows Of Apache
Pass loomed before him. With him
on the box was a gun messenger, and
in the coach sitting with the other
passengers were other guards From
the pass there came the yell of the
Apaches, and in an instant horde of
them were riding circles around the
coach.
1t was the duty of gun messengers
TO shoot, and they shot. 1t was the
duly of Hodges to drive, and he drove.
Lashing out with his whip, he sent
the leaders down an incline and sue
ceSstulIy brought them to a stand
close under the shelter of a govern
ment fort.
Even there 1t was precarious. The
handful of soldiers were unable to
cope with the swarms Of redskins
lowering around. The relay coach
had taken shelter there, not daring to
move through so hostile a country
The Indians surrounded the pass,
blocking all outlets, and for eight
days the small band held out and
fought.
on the eighth day Hodges realizing
that If no help came soon 1t would
mean their death said, "Tll go to
Tucson"
There was a protest from his asso-
ciates, but before his insistence the
others gave way. To go to Tucson
fnt, Il hi SCir h oh he
zone Of fire. There was scarcely any
hope of getting away without being
seen and the moon was bright and
clear. The only chance lay in a DASH
Then there came one to him in the
dead of night and the young driver
heard a soft voice murmur "Will you
take me along?"
1t was during a lull in the intermit-
tent firing and Hodges had almost
proclaimed himself ready The horses
were harnessed to the coach, but his
hand halted in the act of taking the
reins. He looked down at the plead
ing face of a young woman, the sole
passenger of the relay coach which
had been delayed, and was even now
detained at this fort, the driver not
being daring enough to venture.
why, Mary" exclaimed Billy, at
is impossible. l might take the re-
sponsibilty of the mails and treasure,
but you-no.
II must CO. said the girl, her voice
vibrating. II cannot stand this any
longer. Let me go, l beg of YOU"
Time was running short and young
Hodges was not proof against the
girls insistence. The result was that
Mary Androes, setting west to join
her future husband at Los Angeles
was taken on that memorable ride
That she is living today is due to the
skilled driving and nerve of Billy
Hodges.
The long whip caught the nigh
leader under the flank and the coach
ratified out into the open. Instantly
he was under a shower of lead and
arrows and he replied by lashing
wheelers and leaders, sending the
coach careening down rocky ravine
They plunged and the coach tipped
dzzily throwing the girl from side to
side like a ball of rags. But he held
on and so did she. On one occasion
the door swung open and she tore her
finger nails trying to close it. With
one delicate hand grasping the leath-
er hanger she sought to catch the
swinging door with the other and
bring it to position. Just at this juno
ture the coach was tilted up hill,