The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-01-11
Robbery Of q Diligence and Mails

Correspondence of the New Orleans Times.
On the morning of the ODD Of October,
little after good daylight, we had reached
the mountain just above San Mguieto. =
Our coach had II passengers on the inside
and four on the out, of whom the following
is the list: DR.. George Cheyne and son,
NJ. Valezenz, S. NJ. Macedo, Santiago
Gondaul, Yg Madrid and daughter A. Y.
de Ysta, d. Olagubcl, Yg. Cabello, A
Anaque, Francisco Acasta, S. Pane, Dolo-
res AcaSta, ourSelf and one lady, whose
name we did not get. The morning air was
cold and chilly, as We were from 10000 to
ii, 600 feet above the level of the sea. San
MlgWeto is some n leagues from the cap
ltaL We had but just commenced our de-
scent when there was an alarm OF ladrOnes.
The first shout sent thrill through every
nerve OF the hall asleep passengers, who
were still more aroused Immediately after
wards, by the discharge of firearms and
loud and unearthly yell from twenty five to
thirty hoarse, diScordant voices The stage
was suddenly brought to then there was
tramplng OF horses feet, and in much less
time than it takes TO describe it, the coach
was surrounded 10y large band Of armed
men, some OF whom were dismOunted and
others dismounting, while others on their
horses, came dashing up to the doors and
windows of the coach, and presented the
very muzzles of their loaded guns and PTS
tolls, directed and almost in contact with the
persons Of the passengers several of their
weapons being cooked, and their fingers
upon the triggers at the time, as we could
plainly see arms and money were demand
ed cries Of French, and passengers order
ed out OF the coach, which latter order was
quite unnecessary, as the passengers were
getting out as fast as possible, excepting
ourself; We had determined to remain and
insist upon our American citizenship for
protection, as this was a liberal party, and
not robbers, as to speak. But we soon had
cause to change our mind and our base, as
they gave Us a true test Of how much liber-
al and how much robber their band was
composed. A passenger who had occupied
the middle seat III the stage, at the first cry
or alarm turned over his money, some sew
enty-hve to eighty dollars in silver, 20 us,
thinking, that as an American, we could
protect it for him but as the surprise and
attack followed in such rapid succession, we
had no time TO secrete it, further than to
sit upon it, and cover it with our sarape.
which we had hastily done To move US
y.
right hand a pistol secreted from view, and,
which only a moment before as the robbers
first came up, we had been prevented from
using by the timely caution of Dr. Cheyne,
an Itngisii gentleman OF twenty FIVE years
residence In this country, and Senorita
Acasta, who caught our arm and begged of
US not to fire, as all would be murdered. -
There was no time for considering matters.
inn "a Al
can describe it, We had to fire Immediate
~, or cease the attempt, DR.. Cheyne, from
his good knowledge of the language and
position on the middle seat, while our was
the front seat, with our backs towards the
still advancing band had better ccmpre-
hension of their character and number than
we bad, and assured us of the folly of shoot
ing in a few hasty words, like don shoot,
don't shoot. for Gods sake - As the doc
tor also had pistol, which he did not deem
prudent to use, we soon secreted ours but
all the arms were soon taken by the guer-
rlllas and everybody was soon out. of the
stage but US, and the conflict Of searching
was going on amid oaths and threats OF vio-
lence from the robbers and protestations on
the part OF the passengers. Loud cries fol
French blood-'El is Frances - ''El is
Frances There was one Erenchman
along Dir. Gondaul; and, though we could
not see the conflict, we could plainly heaf
it, and fairly trcmbled for the lie of the
poor fellow, when dark, swarthy, vicious
looking thief. who though liberal of course,
cared more for gold than he did for French
blood even, dasiIes up on foot to the then
open door of the coach, and, with his gun
in one hard commenced clutching furious
ly at small gold ring upon our left hand
IN the meantime two others rushed mp, one
at the curtain window and one at the little
window, and presented the very muzEles of
their big escopoletas within two feet of our
breast, and with fingers upon triggers al
ready set ordered us to '1utlar, dudar,
hon,Jre" Reader, as that was no place
for swapping horse" we didn't prepare
to swap, but 'audared'' out of the reach of
those ugly looking fusis as soon as possible.
We did not even stop to proclaim our
American citizenship, or to wish for a
of Gen. Sheridan cavalry to dis