Indian chase after a mail coach.
--The
Mesilla Valley Times of the 2d records numerous depredations of the
Navajo Indians all along the border, among which is the following account of a chase after a mail coach:
‘
The fact that the Indians had but three horses, and were entirely destitute of fire arms, was the only thing that prevented the stage from being cut off and the inmates massacred The
Indians, to the number of seventy, were discovered approaching the road from a pass in the mountains, with the evident intention of getting ahead of the stage.
The driver crowded the mules to their utmost, and succeeded in making such rapid head way as to avoid an attack from the whole party at once.
Not more than twenty Indians succeeded in reaching the stage at the same time, and for most of the way the attack was kept up by only from nine to twelve They would come up, three upon each horse, and dismount, leaving the animals hitched to the bushes, to be mounted in turn by others on foot.
By these delays they succeeded in keeping a party of fresh men constantly around the coach.
’
This running fight was kept up for more than nine miles, and the Indians succeeded twice in stopping the stage, and ran it out of the road several times.
They wounded the side driver in the thigh with an arrow, but not seriously, and also one of the mules in the head.
There were five men in the stage--three passengers, the conductor and driver.
All were armed with revolvers, but there was only one gun among the party.
They kept up a constant fire while the Indians were in range and are confident they killed three, besides wounding many more.
