The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-04-26
BrisandaGe in Casifornia---A Hold
Stage Robbery.

The Stage which arrived here yesterday
from Pali>adc was stopped by four masked
men near the Hay Ranch, Twenty-Five miles
this side of Palisale, night before last, and
robbed of about all the rallmbles on board,
including the money and jewery belonging
to most OF the passengers. The robbery oc-
Cured three miles south of Hay Ranch sta
ton, on an open plain. The robbers were
apparently lying OH the ground, and when
the stage approached they all sprung up with
one accord and commanded the driver to
halt; which order was obeyed without argyll
mcnt. The passengers were assured that il
they would keep still not one of them should
he moleStcd Wells, Fargo g. Co.'streasure-
box was handed down by the driver, and the
leading man of the band proceeded to chop
it open with all axe brought along for the
purpose. Meanwhile the other three stood
guard over the driver and passengers. 1t
is supposed that the box Of Wells, Fargo 4
Co. did not "pan out" very well, as the
fellow was heard to curse his luck. At this
stage Of the proceedings it seems that the
robbery Of the passengers was resolved
upon. Accordingly, they were ordered out
OF the stage. one ut time, when their effects
were duly taken charge of. The total amount
taken from the passengers, in money, was
only about 1900. Some three or four watches,
however, were taken from the party. AS the
passengers were "cleaned out" they were
ranged in row ut the rear of the stage,
where one of the masqueraderS kindly pro-
tected them with shotgun. The next move
was to unlash the boot and go through the
trunks and other baggage. This part of the
work was done with vengeance, the axe
being used freely to smash things to pieces.
The leader of the band, who appeared very
desperate, sworc that there was money
aboard, and he intended to have It, He fur
thur said that he had been watching this OPP
portunity for the benefit Of his family for
some time. One of the trunks was known
to contain a quantity of jewelry; but
whether it was taken il not known. A
passenger thinks that in one Of the trunks
or boxes in the boot large sack Of money
was found, as the robber notified one of
his comrades in an undertone that he had
struck it. After getting through, the rob-
bers took out the swing horses and rode
them off. They had two horses tied near
by, and all four Of the men went mounted
TO the eastward, The robbers were num-
bered one, two, three, four. Number one, Il
tall, slim man, with striped, prison-looking
pants, and large, broad-brimmcd, white felt
hat, did the heavy work and most OF the talk.
ing. 1t is thought by some people that Clifford
and Parsons, the lately-escaped convicts, were
Of the party. A Treasure City saloon-keeper
saved his watch and money by passing his
bottle around among the robbers soon after
being stopped. All hands were badly fright
ened, and two of the passengers got their
heads under the seats and remained in that
position until dragged out by the robbers.
Some of the robbers were also badly fright
cned, and trembed violently at the Begin
ming, The whole performance detained the
stage about two hours.-Eareka Sentinel,
March Goth.