The Portland daily press., 1870-09-02
Graphic Description of the Montana
style of Rinipg n stage-Coach-
sketch by a Paaseuxer

SsytC VI AshhfRS a. SsotC~OO0Ch-
sketch by n Passenger.
Reaching Pleasant Valley about o'clock
on Thursday evening, 1 saw indications of
some anxiety on the part of the driver and
guard-both of whom were armed with shot
guns and revolveIs; we passed the first sta
tion south of Pleasant Valley safely, but it
was between this and the next that we ex-
pected the fun. Lieutenant Hamilton of Fort
Ellis was with me, and the three Cinnamon.
I only had one weapon of defense. We were
from the bed Of Dry Creek, this is what
caught our ears: Click! click! click click !
"Haltw And like an apparition the road
agents sprang from the rocks few feet from
the coach. One drew his Henry rifle on the
leaders, the next on the driver, and the third
paid his compliments to the lieutenant and
myself by placing the muzzle of his needle
gun in rather uncomfortable proximity to oul
ears, and, as the driver pithily remarked, "the
muzzles OF them rifles appeared as large as
nine inch stove-pipe. l instantly seized my
navy" but touch of caution from Hamilton
advised patience. Not knowing what the is.
sue of the affair might be, concealed nv
money in the cushion of my seat by cutting a
hole in the leather. My companion had ne
viously placed his in the band of his drawers,
Tne Cinnamon had by this time awoke. and
began their gibberish. senced them, and
then noted the progress of affairs outside.
The driver put on the brake the moment they
challenged him. He asked what they want
ed.
"The treasure boxes" said they.
"All riaht!' said the driver, "here they are y
and threw out the light one from Virginia
City. beleve.)
"You have another of these fish ?" said the
leader.
"Yes," was the reply.
"Throw it out" was the command.
This was done, and stepping aside he pick
ed up an ak and began chopping the light one
hard work at that. He empted its contents.
There's nothing in tnat id box" he said,
evidently much enraged.
He next attacked the Helena box, which
contained about six thousand dollars, be-
lieve. lie remarked to the driver during the
progress of opening the boxes that he was sor-
ry to detain us so long, but it could not be
helped; that these things would occur in the
best regulated families.
Are there any passengers aboard % he
said, when he got through with the boxes.
AeS, oalu tuo uTINer, tnree Cnlnamen
and two white men,"
Get out, John," in voice that could not
be mistaken. We told the boys to Get out.
They were very unwilling to 90, but they
finally turned out. The leader held his rifle
to their heads and demanded their money!
With many protestations of poverty, they said
they had none. One said: "Two dollars han
alice; no more" They would not be satisfied,
but with fearful imprecations they told them
that they would shot them where they stood
II they would not dissorge. One by one he
stripped Oft their tunics and boots, and took
what they had.
The third and last. who had the largest
amount OF money (3,700), strung around his
neck or in belt, ne handled very roughly.
He took his long knife (about twelve inches.)
and ripped shirt, vest and coat from ton to
bottom, and the gold fell out with a heavy
"thud" to the ground. Having finished. tbey
ordered them into a coach, and told them to
"go on" much to our relief, indeed. for fullv
expected that we would be next. We cannot
explain their partaity in our favor.but think
that they were afraid to attempt to force us
out.
could easily have killed two of them. but
1t would have been at the expense of the life
OF one OF the men on the box, an issue which
did not like to force. The hind curtains be-
ing down, none of them could observe our
movements; hence had the "drop" on any
one of them except the man who covered the
driver, who was a little too far. Thus ended
my experience with the road agents of Monta-
ma, OF whom have heard and read so much.