Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-05-10
BRIGANDAGE IN CALEFOR-
MA.
A ReId stage ROBBERY.

The stage which arrived here yester-
day from Palisafe was stopped by four
masKed men near the Hay Ranch, TWEEN
ty. two miles this side of Palisade, night
before last, and robbed Of about all the
valuables on board, including tue mon
ey and jewelry belonging to most of the
passengers. The ROBBERY occurred three
miles south of Hay Ranch station, on
an open plain. The robbers were ap-
parantly lying on the ground, and when
the stage approached they all sprung
mp with one accord and commanded the
driver to halt which order was obeyed
without argument. The passengers
we're assured that if they would keep
still not one of them should be modest
ed. Wells, Fargo & Co.'S treasures
box was handed down by the driver, aud
the leading man of the band proceeded
to chop it open with an 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 & Go. did not
"pan oEt" very well, as the fellow was
heard to curse bis 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 at time, when
their effects were duly taken charge of.
The total amount taken from the pas
sengers, in money, wss only about $500.
Some three or four watches, however.
we're taken from the party. As the
passengers were "cleaned out" they
were ragged 10 a row at the rear of the
stage, where one of the masqueraders
kfndly protected them with shot gun.
The next move was to Lnlash the boot
and go through the trunks and other
baggage. This part of the work was
done W tn vengeance, the axe being
used freely to smash things to pieces
The leader of the band. who appeared
very desperate, swore thar there was
money aboard, and he intended to have
it. He further said that be had been
watching this opportunity for the ben
eft Of his family for some time. One
of the trunks was known to contain a
quantity of jewelry; hut whether it
was taken is not known. A passenger
thinks that in one of the trunks or box
es in the boot large sack of money
was found, as the robber notified one of
bis comrades in an undertOne that he
had struck it. After getting through,
the robbers 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 was numbered one, two,
three, four Number one, tall, slim
ma0, with striped, prisou-looking
pants, and large, broad brimmed, white
felt hat, did the heavy work aud most
If the talking 1t is thought by some
people that Clifford and Parsons, the
lately escaped convicts. were of the par
ty. A Treasure City saloon-keeper
saved bis watch and money by passing
his bottle around among the robbers
soon after being stopped. All hands
were badly frightened, and two of the
passengers got their heads under the
seats and remained in that position IN.
til dragged out BY the robbers. some
of the robbers were also badly frighten'
ed, and trenbed violently at the begin
ing The whole performance detained
the stage about two hours.