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American History

15 Dirty, Dangerous, and Downright Crazy Wild West Jobs

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6. Stagecoach Guard

concord stagecoach 1869
Buffalo soldiers guard a Concord stagecoach, 1869. Source: Wikipedia

Stagecoach guards saddled up with Winchester rifles and heavy leather satchels to protect gold shipments and mail. They rode shotgun across desert plains and winding mountain passes, scanning horizons for lurking foes. Under constant threat of ambushes, guards braced for sudden volleys from brush or canyon rim. Outlaws employed siege tactics, felling trees and rolling boulders to trap coaches. Only alert eyes and steady hands kept valuables—and lives—intact.

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