East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-09-23

and attacks by Indians were part of
the daily routine, and Slade would
not accept them as alibis. One day
Charley Norris Encountered a terrific
blizzard, and though he put his hors-
es through for all he was worth, he
got into JuIesburg half an hour late.
Slade met him, watch in hand, and
said, What excuse have YOU for be-
ing late 2" Charley started TO explain
about the heavy drifts in the road, but
before he could say a dozen words
Slade reached up, caught him by the
collar, jerlSed him off the box, kick
ed him in the side, breaking two ribs.
Then, shaking him as a terrier does
a rat, he said. 1 won't do anything
this time to you, but ii it ever hap
pens again I'll make YOU wish you
were never BORN
zone day Slade was at Box Elder
station He made some rather dero-
gatory remarks about stage drivers
not having much nerve. Dan Hard
ing, one of the drivers. took it up and
said he had as much nerve as any
one else, including Slade. Slade could
take the fight out of most men by
just looking at them. but Dan was all
grit, SO when he famed to quail before
Slade's look. Slade said. iii test your
nerve. He went to the barn and
hitehed up gentle team to one of
the mail wagons. Taking couple of
Inbroken mustangs along, he notion
ed Dan to get on the box with him
and he drove up the side of the noun
tain about mile. Then he unhar-
messed the gentle stage horses, hitch
ad OF nc IN. xyup r1d
said, i am going to see how fast we
can go down the mountain. Wen
see who jumps first when we go over
the bluff into the creek The mus
tangs started at full speed down the
mountain, with Slade plying the whip.
They came to the perpendicular rock
wall of the canyon through which the
stream had cut its way. over they
went. both. men sitting tight, expect
ing to be killed. There was terrific
smash as the outfit piled up on the
rocks below. The stage was smashed
to kindling wood, the mustangs were
put out of commission, but aside from
being bruised neither Slade nor Dan |
was hurt
"Sade had one test. he tried on |
al new drivers. He would sit on the |
,ox with the driver, and when they
;ame to a bad grade he would grab i
he buffalo laprobe. wave it, and give
series Of Commanche yells. OF
curse. the horses would run away. If
he driver kept his head and got them !
topped at the foot of the grade, i
lade would make no comment. but if
he driver turned white or got rat
led slade would throw him off the
OK set him afoot. and drive the stage
iIiiself to the next station. That par
cular driver could never get another
'b on Slade's division.
'.Slade became peeved about some.
ling Ben Holladay did, so he took 36
the best six-mule teams in his di-
sion and picking out the toughest
zen he had. such as Dan Hard ing.
oh Scott, Charley Wilson, Naylor
thompson and men of that type, he
ruck out for Fort Benton. He went h
ON there to Virginia City. Holla-
" had lost the best stock he had a
'tween Julesburg and Green River.
Id no mail came through for 80
lys, or until Holiday could secure
w outfits and new drivers. HoIla-
y was out and injured. and never
j get his stock back Slades wife
de horse to death to get w. F.
nders of Montana to defend Slade b
2 founder of Julesburg. Sanders
couldn't make it,
rhe railroad station of Pendleton is
N - -. -sr~T.