Chapter 10.

INTERESTING EVENTS OF EARLY DAYS.’

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   AN interesting visitor called at the Times-Herald office yesterday afternoon in the person of G. Mercer (“Pet”) Smith. He was given the name of “Pet” by his father, way back in Missouri, when he strayed from home, as a little chap, and was lost in the woods.

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   Mr. Smith now lives at Walnut Spring’s, and this is his second visit to Waco since 1878. It’s hardly necessary to state that he found some changes, and he was astonished by the spirit of progressiveness he encountered on every hand. Mr. Smith is a most interesting speaker, and he gave an entertaining summary of early days in this vicinity.

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   He came to Waco the first time in about 1876, and he drove the stage from Waco to Gatesville. One day, near the East Bosque, the stage was held up and robbed by a lone highwayman There were five passengers in the stage at that time, and two of ’these recalled by Mr. Smith were Bob Cumby of Gatesville and a Mr. Stoval of Hamilton. The robber took all the money and valuables in the possession of the passengers. The same man a short time later, robbed the stage operating between San Antonio and Rockdale, and also the one utilized on another line in that immediate neighborhood. There were four soldiers aboard the stag^e coach, who had declared they would like to see the one man that could rob them; they saw him, and he robbed them, too. Mr. Smith said the party who perpetrated the robbery was later captured and given a term of 99 years.

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   When he first began driving- the stage, Mr. Smith said, he secured a six-shooter, but he was advised by one of the oldtimers, a stage driver, also, to leave off his shooting iron. This party told him that it would result in him being killed, as he was paid to carry the mails not to sacrifice his life to protect such mail matter as might be entrusted to him.

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   There are many of the older citizens here who recall Mr. Smith, and two of those with whom he is well acquainted are Messrs. Ed Rotan and T. J. Primm.