St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-12-13


took fresh horses. I'd been two hour
going that distance. just as I was goin!
to start, man came up and asked me if
was going through to Littleton. I tolt
him I should go through if the thin:
could possibly be done He said he wa
very anxious to go, and as he had no bag
gage, 1 told him to jump in and make him
self as comfortable as possible. I wa
gathering up my lines when the hostle
came out and asked me if knew that on,
Of my horses had cut himself badly?
jumped out and went with him, aud foune
that one Of the animals had got dee,
cork cut on the off fore foot. I gave suci
directions as considered necessary, ane
was about to turn away, when the hostle1
remarked that he thought came alone
! told him I did.
"Then where did you get that passen
ge;?" said he.
- Gle ;2st got in," I answered.
"Got in trvc1 whereW
81 don't know"
"Well, now," said the ,:ostler, "tL,::1t
kind O curious. There amt no suoh man
been at the hotel, and I know there amt
been at any Of the neighbors."
"Let's have a look at his face" said I
"We can get that much at any rate. Do
you go back with me, and when get into
the pung, just hold your lantern 90 that
the light will shine into his face"
He did as I wished, and as l stepped
into the pung got a fair view Of such
portions Of my passengers face as were
not muffled up. I saw a short, thick
frame; full, hard features, and I could
also see that there was heavy beard under
the chin. I thought Of the nan whom
the postmaster had described to me but
/ didn't think seriously upon it until I
had started. Perhaps [ had gone half a
mile, when I noticed that the mail bag
wasn't in its old place under my feet.
"Hallo!' says I, holding up my horses
a little, "where's my mail"
My passenger sat on the seat behind
me, and I turned toward him.
''Here is bag Of some kind slipped
back under my feet" he said, giving it
kick, as though he'd showed it forward.
Just at this moment my horse numbered
into deep snow-drift, and I was forced
to get out and tread down the snow ahead
of them, and lead them through it.
This took me all of fifteen minutes and
when I got in again pulled the mail bag
forward and got my feet upon it. AS. /
was doing this, 7 saw the man take some
thing from his /|lap, beneath the buffalo,
and put in his Ereast pocket. At this /
thought it was a pistol. 1 had caught the
CLEAN Of the barrel in the starlight, and
when had time to reflect, knew I could
not be mistaken. '~..
About this time 1 began to think some
what seriously. From what I had heard
and seen, l soon made up my mind that
the individual behind me not only meant
to rob the mail, but he was prepared to rob
me of my life. IF resisted him he would
shoot me, and perhaps he meant to per-
form that delectable operation at any rate
While I was ponderirg, the horses plunged
into another deep snow drift, and / was
again forced to get out, and tread down
the snow before them. I asked my pas
senger if he would help me, but he said he
didn't feel very well, and wouldn't try !;
so l worked alone, and was all of quarter
of an hour getting my team all through
the drifts. When l got Into the sleigh
again, I began to feel for the mail bag
with my feet. I found it where I had
left it; but when I attempted to withdraw
my foot, I discovered that it had become
entangled in something-I thought it
was the buffalo, and I tried to kick it
clear; but the more I kicked, the more
closely was it held. I reached down my
hand, and after feeling about for few
moments, I found that my foot was in the
mail bag! I felt again, and found my
hand in among the packages ofletters and
papers! I ran my fingers over the edges
of the opening, and became assured that
the stout leather had been cut with a
knife!
Here was discovery. I began to
wish had taken little more forcthought
before leaving Danbury; but as 1 knew
that making such wishes was only waste
Of time, l quickly gave it up, and began
to consider what I had best do under the
existing circumstances: I wasn't long in
making up my mind upon few essential
points. First, the man behind me was a
villain ; second, he had cut open the mail
bag, and robbed it of some valuable mat
ter: He must have known the money let
ters by their size and shape; third, he
meant to leave the stage on the first op.
portunity; and fourthly, he was prepared
to shoot me if I attempted to arrest or de-
tain him. s -, ..- =. ...::
I revolved these things over in my mind
and pretty soon I thought of course to
pursue. knew # I could get my hands
safely upon the rascal, I must take him
wholly unawares, and this I could not dc
while he was behind me-; for his eyes
were upon me all the time 80 1 must re-