The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-18
STAGE COACH
TALES
B y E. C.. TAYLOR
Forced to Fight


- stage coaches out of Washing
ton, Pa, despite his long years at
the reins and his hard life, was a
peaceful man. He was reputed to
be a man of great muscular power,
but of quiet demeanor.
Nearly all cities and sections of
the countryside century ago, when
stage coaches were the only means
of travel between the East and the
West, had their local "bullies" who
wanted TO fight every one who
would stand up against them. Some
having conquered their local fields
set out for new conquests.
There was a bully" in Cincin-
natl, whose name has not been
handed down to posterity, who had
achieved local reputation Of hav-
ing licked" everybody in and
around Cincinnati. SO like Alexan-
der of old, he sighed for neY vic
tories.
Hearing of James Buns great
strength, he set out for Claysville,
Pa, where he was informed Bun
could be found. He travelled by
steamboat from Cincinnati to
Wheeling, w. Va, and took a stage
coach to Claysville, where he put
up" at the tavern of William kel-
ley, the stopping place of Buns
stage line.
Upon entering the tavern, the
stranger asked for Bun and was
politely informed by the landlord
that the driver was at the stable
looking after his teams and soon
would be in.
Bun entered a short while later,
and Kelley remarked to the stran-
ger:
This is Mr.. Bun"
The stranger, who was somewhat
larger than Bun, said:
Bun, l have been told that you
are the best man in all this coun-
try and | have come all the way
from Cincinnati to fight you and
lick you, if | can"
WELL" said Bun, you have come
a long distance for a Job like that,
and besides l don't know you and
there is no reason why we should
fight"
But you must fight me-" the
stranger said. 81 insist on it and
will not leave here until you do"
Bun persisted in declining the
proffered combat, and finally went
upstairs and went to bed to rest
up after his long drive.
After half an hour of rest he
came downstairs again, without
any more thought of the pugilisti-
cally inclined stranger.
To his utter surprise, the aggres-
sive visitor met him at the foot of
the stairs and again demanded a
trial of strength.
Buns good nature departed then
Stepping back, he warned his as
sailant to look out, and with one
blow of his fist, felled the man.
Bun then went to rear room of
the tavern and washed his face and
hands preparatory to dinner. On
his return, the stranger was still
PROSTATE on the floor.
Hasn't that man got up yet?"
Bun asked.
Water was thrown over the van
quished bully, and after he had
fully recovered, he departed, a
wiser if not a better man. He was
never seen again in Claysville.
Bun became the hero of Clays-
vile, and the story of that blow was
carried all along that section of
the National road. Efforts were
continually made after that to
match Bun with others of the pike
Boys" who were famous for the
fistic prowess, but Bun always de-
clined to be drawn into any more
fights. Kelley told every detail of
that famous encounter to anyone
who would listen, for years after it
occurred.
David Gordan, six feet tall and
weighing 200 pounds of solid bone
and muscle. but Deaceful like Bun.
also was driving a stage coach of
Washington at the time, and many
efforts were made to get the two
men together in a ring.
Tradition has it that the two men
had a reciprocal fear of each other,
but they never collided, and it never
was settled who was the better
man.
(6. 1881 Western Newspaper Union.)