Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-07-28

THE ROBBERY OF WELLS, FARGO & Co.'S
EMPRESS. -Poiiteness QtHe Robbers The San
Francisco Herdld gives the suboined account
of the robbery recently committed by four high
waymen on Wells, Fargo X Co.'S Express, near
Chico,n Butte county, Cal The sum obtained
was SIS, 900. The robbers executed their busi-
ness in the genteelest manner possible with the
nature of the transaction;
"rhe outrage was committed at tabout nine o.
clock in the evening. The night was dark and
as the stage emerging from a wood and
about to descend into "a creek, the bed of which
was dry some person ahead of the coach called
on the driver, in a loud voice, to stop. The
driver supposed that team or some other OBJ
struction was in the way, and suddenly reined
in his horses. On looking round, somewhat
to his ustonishment, he discovered two men
with double-barreled guns levelled at the pas
scngers on the box seat, and another with
similar weapon covering the tour or hve per-
sons Inside.
The captain of the gang, with cooked revol-
yer in his hand, stepped up to the driver and
informed him in a cool and clear voice that he
must have the money in the treasure-box, and
then turning to Mr.. Bowen, the express mes
senger, said, Charley, it will be of no use to
resist. Nobody shall be harmed, If you don't
make any FUSS And, in the meantime, pur-
sued the highwayman, gentlemen will be kind
essary for us to say that the passengers obeyed,
the driver dropped the reins, and each mans
fingers pointed instantly to heaven. Nov,
then, Charley said the robber, i must have
YOUR pistol. to prevent accidents and he pro-
ceeded to dsarm the expressman, notwithstand-
ing the outraged mans remonstrances. AS the
robber took the pistol, with naive attectatlon
If surprise and an ominous shake of the head,
he said, WHY, Charley the pistol is actually
la lish Ihprpup-
on Charley immediately subsidized, with the re-
mark that it was very hard that he should be
treated in such manner. Not at all, Charley
answered the rohber i am not robbing y0u
-you cannot help vourself-but your company
advertise that they have Il capital stock of $780,,
600. and $4,000 to divide among the boys
would not be missed, Charley, you know By
way of modifying Charley's feelings, the high
wayman politely assured him upon his honor
as a gentleman that he was not murderer,
and did not desire to take a dollar from any
! person then present.
At this time Mr. McDuffie suggested that
there existed no absolute necessity for the
strange genteman's friends on the road to per-
sist in holding their guns Ill SO very direct
| line with his head, as he had known men under
such circumstances suffer from nervous excite
ment, and although he could not doubt their
peaceful assurances or the honesty OF their IN
! tentlOns, II tne Triggers cnanceu =" oc oe'y hHS-
" set an explosion might take place unconscious
! w. Thereupon the robber bowed politely and
! EXPRESSED his desire to make the interview as
pleasant one as possible, and directed his men
to elevate their fowling pieces, but still to keep
the enemy well covered After this he un-
hitched the horses, fastened them securely to
fence near by, declining in atiecionate language
the assistance of the driver, and drew from the
stage the box of treasure.
lie was about to split open the box with an
AK, when he remarked to Charley that it would
be pity to spoil the furniture, and asked for
thekcy. Observing some hesitation and grumb-
ling on the part of the messenger, he brought
forward bundle of cord and expressed the
opinion that in would be necessary to tie Char
ley as he was talking great deal too much
What would you give to know me This face
was masked), Charley !? he asked. Two and
a halt was the sullen reply. Ah, your liber-
ality will be the death of you, replied the high
wayman, who then very coolly opened the treas
ure box, filled the pockets of his comrades with
the contents, placed 'Charey's pistol in the
bed of the COACH fastened the horses again to
the stage, expressed the delight he expert
enced in meeting with gentlemen who We're so un-
exceptonable in their department, and bade II
graceful adieu. The robbers then left for the
woods. During the whole proceedings not an
oath was heard, and the captain ofthe gang did
his utmost, says our informant, to soothe the
alright of the passengers"