Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-04-03
BOB's RECKLESS DRIVE.
BY w. r. CODY.


A typical man of the west was talk.
ing to few friends and discussing
the good old times of the overland
stage and pony express, Indian fights,
and when the real bad man from Bit
ter Creek" was much in evidence.
4 The westerner was Col. M. B. Rus
sell Of Deadwood, and he looked just
what he was--a man who had been
there"
There was one drive over the Over.
land trail which I guess the six Eng
lishmen who took 1t viii remember to
their day Of passing In their chips, II
they have not already cashed in and
gone across the Great Divide" said
the colonel.
TT was in Bob Scott's coach and
run, and be 1t known Bob was the
best, yet the most reckless, driver on
the Overland trail.
"It was in the early '60s. and the
coach came In to Horseshoe with the
six Britishers only. and was loaded
down with their baggage.
There Bob Scott was to take the
reins and drive the old hearse through
to Fort Laramie, and the driver that
brought them In told how the six pas
sengers had grumbled all along the
trail against the slow rate they went.
Each driver had taken his share OF
abuse. and each one had passed word
along to Bob about 1t.
"Blarst me bloody eyes, but you
don't know anything about staging in
this blarsted heather country" said
one Of the party to Bob Scott.
Bob Scott smiled and said. simply:
'I1l see what can do to please
you"
"Then Bob went to the stables and
got the stock tenders to hitch up six
of the pony express riders horses for
his. team that day, and animals not all
broken to coaching.
"'We'll strike Laramie ON time. or
I'll know why not" grimly said Bob
Scott, and he mounted the box as the
Englishmen came out from dinner and
eyed the new team, with men holding
them ON the earth.
"T,m blest II don't believe that's
= fair going team of cobs,' said one.
"AN aboardl' shouted Bob.
"sBlarst you, turn 'em loose!' and
other things were said to Bob, along
with much abuse.
"The trail led up q long hill. half a
dozen miles in length. but then came
sharp and rough descent.
Then came Bob's chance, and, wild
at the abuse heaped upon him. he gave
yell. threw the reins, three on one
side, three on the other, to drag on
the ground, and began to lay the whip
upon the team.
IF the Englishmen at first were
pleased, It was only for moment, as
Bob drew his revolver and fred six
shots in the air. yelling as he fired.
His next mad act was to tear first
one lamp, then the other from the
sides, and hurl them full force at the
leaders. the tingling Of the broken
glass startling them the more.
"The Englishmen were scared half
out of their wits by this time.
They dared not jump out, though a
hasty council Of war decided -unani
mously that they were being driven by
q madman.
ITO add fuel to the fire, Bob leaned
back and calmly asked:. .~e.
Gentlemen. does this style Of
staging please your
"A groan in chorus was the an
swer.
"The next station was ten miles
from Horseshoe. and with hop, skip
and Jump the coach went along,
dragged by the maddened team.
"The stock tenders heard the noise,
saw the horses tearing along. and
knew that they were running away,
and. quickly threw the stable doors
wide open, knowing the animals would
rush In.
1T was q close call for all. but Bob
ordered the coach backed out, fresh
team hitched up, and quietly called
out:
"sAn aboard. gentlemen!'
'But the six Englishmen had had
more than their moneys worth and
theis MI Of Bob Scott. and refused tc
ride further. with him."
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Co.,
L - n ~