Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-12
ARKANSAS BRIGANDS.

trial as we 60 to press.
ARKANSAS BRIGANDs.
The subioined strange but true narrative is
copied from the Little Rock (Arkansas) ia.
zette, of recent date Mr.. G. R. Crump, to
whom the Gazette acknowledges its indebted
ness for the facts, is a native of Richmond,
and we'll known there as gentleman Of un-
doubted veracity. The account reads like
one of the olden time stories of the deeds of
Dick Turpin and Claude Duval. The Ga
zette says: go.
From Mr.. G. R. Crump, representative
of the Wholesale tobacco and cigar house OF
Edmunds, Pettigrew & Co., of Memphis, who
arrived from Hot Springs last night, and who
was on Thursdays stage going to the springs
at the time of the robbery referred to in Fri
DAYS Gazette, we learn the particulars of the
affair. There was one stage and two light
road wagons or ambulances, the stage being
in front and the other two vehicles immedi-
ately in the rear. At the Gaines place, five
miles this side of Hot Springs, the stages were
stopped to water the stock. While watering,
five men rode up, coming from toward Hot
Springs, and passed on by. Each man wore
a heavy, blue army over-coat but neither OF
them was masked. Nothing was thought Of
the matter and the vehicles moved on.
After going about half mile, the men who
had passed them at the Gaines place, rode up
from behind, and the first thing that Mr..
Crump, who was in the front stage, heard,
was an order to the driver to stop, or his head
| would be blown of. The stage was stopped,
and on throwing up the curtain, he saw
pistol pointed at him and others in the stage,
telling them to get out quick, accompanied
by an oath. They got out, and as they did
so we're ordered to throw up their hands:
Three men were in front of them with cooked
pistols and another with shotgun, while on
the other side of the stage was still another
all pointing their weapons towards the pas
sengers and the driver. After getting the
passengers out, they made them form in a
kind Of circle, 80 that all of them could be
covered by pistols and guns. The leader then
"went through" each passenger, taking all
the watches, jewelry and money that could
con nveniently be found that vera of special
value. From Ex-Governor Burbank, of Da-
Gotta, they obtained $340 in money, a diamond
pin and gold watch. A gentleman named
Taylor, from Lowell, Massachusetts, went up
for $3.50 in money. A passenger from syra-
cuse, New York, gave up his last nickel,
$3.50. Mr.. Johnny Dietrich, our boot and
shoe merchant, lost S. in money and a line
gold watch. He had $50 besides this in the
watch pocket of his pants that they did not
find. Mr.. Charley Moore, of the ice.house,
gave up $40 in money and his silver watch,
but they returned the latter, stating that they
did not want any silver watches. A Mr.
Peoples, who resides near Hot Springs, lost
800. Three countrymen lost q bout SO. The
express package, containing about S45O, was
also taken. Mr.. Crump had his watch and
about $40 to $50 in money gobbled. After
getting through with the passengers they tore
open several mail sacks in search of register.
ed letters, but did not get any. While the
main party was engaged in this work another
took out the best horse in the coach, saddled
him, rode up and down the road about fifty
yards two or three times, and remarked that
che would do"
After this, the captain" went to each pas
senger in turn and questioned him as to where
he was from, and inquired if there were any
Southern men along. Mr.. Crump spoke up,
as did one or two others, that there were South
ern men. They then asked if there were any
one who served in the Confederate army dur
ing the war. Mr.. Crump answered that he
did. They questioned him as to what COM
mand. Third Richmond Howitzers, and re-
marking that he looked like an honest fellow,
one who was telling the truth, handed him
back his watch and money, saying they did
not want to rob Confederate soldiers; that
the Northern men had driven them into out
lawry, and they intended to make them pay
for it. Coming 10 Mr. Taylor, Of Lowell,
they asked where he was from. "St. Louis"
he responded. The "Captain" eyed him
closely. eyes, and you are newspaper re.
porter for the St. Louis Democrat the vilest
paper in the West. Go to Hot Springs and
send the Democrat telegram about this af'
fair, and give them my compliments"
. Governor Burbank asked them to return
his papers, saying they could be of no benefit
to them. The Captain" squatted down on
his knees and commenced examining them.
Turning round to his followers, he said
"Boys, believe he is detective shoot
him |" and forthwith he was covered with
three pistols. "Stop," said the chief, looking
further, ~ guess it's all right" and handed
the Governor his papers. Coming to the gen.
tleman from Syracuse, N. Y, who was going
to the springs for bis health, he asked them
to give him back FIVE dollars, 80 that he could
telegraph home. Eyeing him closely, the
chief responded that if be had no friends OF
money, he had better 60 and die-that he
would be little loss any way. The fellow with
the shotgun kept pointing it at the st. Louis
Democrat man, as they termed him, making
such cheerful remarks as these: "1Il bet I
can shoot his hat of without touching hair
ofhis head"
All of them seemed to be jolly fellows, and
enjoyed the fun very much. None Of the
passengers were armed, and as Mr.. Crump
expressed it, "They had the drop on them"
One passenger with rheumatism, 80 badly af.
hicted that he could not get out Of the coach,
they did not touch, refusing to take anything
he had.
Theafair occurred about halfpast o'clock
Thursday evening, on the main road to Hot
Springs. From the talk of the captain, it is
thought they are from Missouri. They took
breakfast on the road between Malvern and
Hot Snrinos- Friday. and from the deacrintion.