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of stages, established at a time when it was worth a man's life to sit on its box and journey
from one end of its destination to the other. The accompanying picture affords an idea of
the old relic, and it is because of its many associations with his own life that it has been
purchased by "BUFFALO BILL" and added to the attractions of his "GREAT REALISTIC
EXHIBITION OF WESTERN LIFE."
It will be observed that it is a heavily built Concord stage and is intended for a team
of six horses. The body is swung on a pair of heavy leather underbraces, and has the usual
thick "perches," "jacks" and brakes belonging to such a vehicle. It has a large leather
"boot" behind, and another at the driver's foot-board. The coach was intended to seat
twenty-one men--the driver and two men beside him, twelve inside and the other six on top.
As it now stands, the leather blinds of the windows are worn, the paint is faded, and it has a
battered and travel-stained aspect that tells the story of hardship and adventure. Its trips
began in 1875, when the owners were Messrs Gilmore, Salsbury & Co. Luke Voorhees is the
Rawhide Buttes, Hat or War Bonnet Creek, the place where "BUFFALO BILL" killed the
Indian Chief, "Yellow Hand," on July 17, 1876, Cheyenne River, Red Canyon, and Custer.
Owing to the long distance and dangers, the drivers were always chosen for their
coolness, courage and skill.
In its first season the dangerous places on the route were Buffalo Gap, Lame Johnny
Creek, Red Canyon, and Squaw Gap, all of which were made famous by scenes of slaughter
and the deviltry of the banditti. Conspicuous among the latter were "Curley" Grimes, who
was killed Hogan's Ranch; "Peg Legged" Bradley, Bill Price, who was killed on the
Cheyenne River; "Dunk" Blackburn, who is now in the Nebraska State Prison, and others
of the same class, representing the most fearless of the road agents of the West.
On the occasion of the first attack the driver, John Slaughter, a son of the present
marshal of Cheyenne, was shot to pieces with buckshot. He fell to the ground and the team
ran away, escaping with the passengers and mail, and safeuly reached Greeley's Station. This
occurred at White Wood Canyon. Slaughter's body was recovered, brought to Deadwood,
and thence carried to Cheyenne, where it is now buried. The old coach here received its
"baptism of fire," and during the ensuing summer passed through a variety of similar
experiences, being frequently attacked. One of the most terrific of these raids was made by
the Sioux Indians, but the assault was successfully repelled, although the two leading horses
were killed. Several commercial travelers next suffered from a successful ambush, on which
