LITMIR.BIZ

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civilized world.

      I only met with one accident during the eighteen months of travel while conducting my mail route, and that was not serious. It happened at Chichon, where I stopped for dinner with my three passengers, and to change my team. I had agreed to break a pair of wild mules for Domingo, the ranchman, and had been working them for about three months, from one station to the next, but every time they would try to run away, though I always got the best of them by allowing them to run, after getting them in the road, until they tired themselves down. I had them hitched up on this trip, and a man held them until we were all seated in the ambulance. When he turned loose the unmanageable brutes, they headed for a high and strongly built picket fence, and before I could turn them, the hack came in violent collision with the posts. In my efforts to hold them I was badly hurt by being pulled from the seat, and as the vehicle was smashed, it was necessary to procure another conveyance before we could proceed. The nearest place where one could be had was Eagle Pass, but as the Indians were raiding in that part of the country, no one at the station would undertake the chances of making the ride for love or money.

      When troubles accumulate to a certain point something generally happens that improves the situation, and in our case the emergency was met by Henry Shane, a friend of mine, who lived in that vicinity. His offer of assistance was accepted, and he started for Eagle Pass about one o'clock on his favorite saddle horse. The distance of twenty-seven miles was ridden and the return trip with an ambulance and two horses, that he got from Albert Tuerpe, was made in about eleven hours. Imme-

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      diately after his arrival we hitched up the same wild mules, and without further mishap arrived at Eagle Pass about daylight. I started back the same morning, in the borrowed vehicle, about eight o'clock, as usual, and after driving about fifteen miles I met Mr. Shane with the broken ambulance, driving the horses he had gotten from Albert Tuerpe. He had added to my obligations by following me with it, and it was taken to the government post, at Fort Duncan, which had been established a short time before, where it was repaired in the shop there, in a most suitable manner, without one cent of charges.

      The following week when I returned from San Antonio I met Mr. Shane and asked him what I owed him for his services and trouble, but he disposed of the subject by saying, " Nothing ; I was very glad that I was able to help you when you were in need." His generosity had been displayed by traveling fifty-four miles over a dangerous road at the risk of his life when no one else would take the chances. f He had left his horse in Eagle Pass and assumed the responsibility of taking the conveyance through and his return, making a total distance of one hundred and eight miles, together with all the incidental troubles and expenses attached, all on my account and with no expectation of reward.

      There is an old and true saying that " a friend in need is a friend indeed," and Mr. Shane's practical illustration of the fact was demonstrated in a manner that was a test which few persons have an opportunity to apply. I have always felt grateful towards him for his act of kindness and will never cease to entertain the warmest friendship for him while I live, because I know he is an honest and worthy man.

      I was under other obligations to him afterwards, and at one time especially when he assisted in recovering my stage mules that were driven off by the Indians, with John Kennedy's horses from the ranch. He went with John and Ross Kennedy and their men in pursuit until

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      they overtook them on the Rio Frio, eight miles east of Uvalde, near General Knox's ranch.

      Henry Shane is now about seventy-three years of age and he resides on his ranch five miles below Sabinal Station, on Sabinal Creek, with pleasant surroundings and in good circumstances. He is highly esteemed by all who are acquainted with his generous nature and have knowledge of his general character. He is well known throughout west Texas, where his life has been spent, and also in San Antonio, where he has many friends, and among them Colonel C. C. Gibbs is one of long standing.

      His early life was spent on the frontier of Texas, where he had many experiences, and the stories he could relate about his encounters with wild Indians would be interesting; but he rarely speaks of them, and he had one that he never talks about. It occurred in a fight when in pursuit of Indian raiders, on Sabinal Creek, after his ammunition was exhausted. When the fact was discovered he was close to an Indian who was also without ammunition, but both were equally brave, and they rushed at each other with clubbed guns. Those who witnessed the fight say that Mr. Shane was worsted in the fight by a lick on one side of his head which brought him to the ground, and he rolled down the creek bank. Other particulars are forgotten, but Mr. Shane confesses that it was the hardest fight he ever had in his life. In later years he served during the Civil War as a soldier in the Confederate Army, and in that connection he sustained his reputation for courage and fidelity to duty that distinguished his previous career as a worthy citizen on the borders of civilization, but not more honorably than he has since done in private life.

      CHAPTER VII

      CAPTAIN ADOLPH MUENZENBERGER and myself estab- lished the first stage line between the United States and Mexico, in August, 1867, under the firm name of A. Santleben & Company. The corporation was organized on August 1, as a private enterprise, for the purpose of transporting passengers, and, incidentally, to convey letters, money, and other packages suitable for the capacity of the stage. The institution was licensed under the gen- eral laws of the State of Texas and those of Mexico, but no subsidies were granted, and the business was conducted at the risk and expense of the company. The facts to be given will show that, throughout its continuance, the line was liberally patronized and was highly appreciated by the public because of its great convenience.

      The success of the enterprise was assured beforehand through special privileges granted by the Mexican government, which would not, or could not, be allowed under existing laws. The most important of these concessions was an exemption from tariff charges on everything except money, on which a municipal duty of two per cent, was collected in Monterey and an export duty of ten per cent, was exacted by the customs officials at Piedras Negras. During the two years that the line was operated the contents of the coach was never investigated nor was it ever delayed on any occasion by government officials on either side of the Rio Grande. Thomas B. McManus, who was in charge of the United States customs-house in Eagle Pass, and the Mexican customs officials in Piedras Negras, Nicholas Gresanta, and his assistant, Pedro Morales, were all my intimate friends whose personal influ-

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      ence and official powers were exercised in the interest of the line whenever an opportunity offered.

      Our stage as a mail carrier was guaranteed the same privileges and protection as those granted the general mail lines in Mexico; but otherwise it had no connection with the postal department, as the right to levy our own postage and collect it in advance, for the company's benefit, was conceded to us. Our company used a metal stamp that was furnished by the Mexican government, on which were the numerals " &5," with the words " Republica Mexicana " in a circle around them, which the postal department used until stamps were introduced in 1870; but no account of our mail transactions was required. The only agreement we had with the government stipulated that all letters handled by us might be weighed, and after a payment of twenty-five cents an ounce was exacted, the stamp should be applied once for each ounce. No other government stamp was placed on letters brought by us from Mexico, but it was necessary for all letters sent to the United States to carry stamps of that government, at the rate of five cents for each ounce after crossing the border. Frequently two dollars for postage was paid on one letter, and these carried eight impressions of our stamp, in addition to the United States postage. Messrs. Weber and Ulrich were one of several firms in Monterey, who paid as much or more on letters sent through us to the United States. On many of our trips as much as fifty dollars was realized on mail matter alone, that was collected at points along the route.

      Besides passengers and their baggage, we carried all kinds of paying freight, but mostly money, and occa- sionally we transported live-stock, such as game chickens and blooded sheep. The games were known as Guieo de Seguin, and they had a great reputation on account of their fighting qualities, in which respect they resembled the people in

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