The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-06
CALIFORNIA BANDITS.
Two arsn Capture Regular station,
Receive and Pinnder the stage, and
Corral the Passengers.

| ~ tN.AN Va VIZ ASSp4t 10b-
berry Of a stage by the notorious Vas
quez and one other man:
By the Southern stage we have the
particulars Of q most wonderfully.dar-
ing robbery committed by yasquez and
one man OF his gang, which took place
at Coyote Holes, eighty miles south Of
this place, on the previous evening, To
give the whole story requires reference
TO occurrences early in the day. That
morning n traveller who had stopped at
the station the night previous with
some stock, went out into the hills to
look up his animals. Less than q mile
out he found himself in the camp OF
two Mexicans, who took him prisoner
and tied him. One OF them said he was
Vasquez, and informed their prisoner
that they intended to rob the station
and both the up and down stages, and
ascertained from him, as near as he
could tell, at what time they would be
along. Soon after, taking their pris-
oner, they proceeded in the direction
OF the house, and while some distance
away met Raymond, the station-keeper.
Raymond was taken in hand, securely
bound, and, with the other similarly
secured, left on the ground. The two
robbers went to the house, and when in
suitable range opened fire upon it,
firing some fifteen shots, but without re-
Spouse. The inmates we're told TO come
out one at a time and give themselves
up. This, to the number Of six or seven,
including Mrs. Raymond, they did.
But o man known as Old Tex. refused
10 come forth for some time, until Yas-
quez went in and marched him ont ut
the muzSle Of Henry rifle. The whole
party were then taken TO q small hill
about quarter Of q mile away, but not
near the place occupied by the two
prisoners previously mentioned, and
there told to sit down and be 'inyesti.
gated All oboyed with seeming will
ingness except TEX, who had been
drinking just enough TO feel IL his duty
to be as contrary as possible. Vasquez
insisted upon his taking seat, other
wise he would have 10 shoot him.
Texas was still obstinate, whereupon
the robber fred q shot through his
thigh, inhicting q severe but not neces-
sarily dangerous flesh wound. tex
gave 1t up, and took seat, and the
investigation was carried out with
minuteness, but without valuable re-
suits. NJ.
The whole party were put on parole
not to leave the spot on pain Of being
shot No Interpretations were taken
to insure their quietness, but until the
finale, some hours afterwards every one
Of them made II o point OF honor to
stay exactly where he was put, The
two desperadoes then returned 10 the
house, and took things with patience
for two hours, or perhaps longer, but
OF the same time not without keeping
an eye on the party herded on tho hill.
AT the expiration Of Two hours the stage
from the south drove up TO the door,
where it was received by two robbers,
one on each side. n. w. Belshaw, OF
Cerro Gordo, was on the outside with
Davis, the driver inside, with the cur.
tains closelybuttoned down all around,
were Craig, Of Cerro Gordo, and VIM.
Fessenaeld, .of Los Angeles. Belshaw
and Davis were invited to get down,
and the same invitation was extended
to the gentlemen inside. To say that
the whole party were much surprised
and mystided at these proceedings right
there at regular station, where q num-
Der of persons were known TO be stop
ping, would DO q mild way Of putting
II. But two Henry rifles At present,
and four six.shooters ut the hands OF
two desperate.looking men, even II pc.
lite, as they were in address, showed
the prepriety Of first obeying orders,
leaving mystincation for future elucida.
ton. All took seats in row, pursuant
to orders, and each in turn was re-
tquested to contribute something TO the
yasquez fund, which, sertdtim, all did
save Davis, the driver, who ,smuggled
q purse containing $40 into the sand.
Fessenden contributed $40 gold,
splendid spy.glass, and also rendered
some silver, bnt the latter was returned
to him. He had watch he wanted TO
keep, and that he managed to work into
his oyershoe, and thus succeeded in
saving II. Craig came out literally, but
the exact amount OF his contribution we
have not heard. Belshaw helped 10 the
extent Of $40 in gold, a fine silver watch,
and subsequently, from his carpet-snck,
his new boots. These ceremonies ended,
all save Davis were invited to take q
walk to o neighboring hill, which, in
company with one Of the robbers, they
did. After being left to themselves 10
enjoy the outlook and scenery, this
party saw the larger one some distance
away on another eminence, but thought
they were portion Of the robber gang,
so they said nothing.
In tho meantime Davis had been or
dered to unhitch his team, and that be.
ing done, to get Wells q Fmgos box
and break II open. Thoughnot IN adept
at this business, Davis was too polite TO
demur under the circumstances, and BY
means Of n bar Of iron furnished by one
Of the robbers succeeded finally in get
ting the box open. Vasquez examined
fthe contents critically, but found moth
ing he wanted. Up TO this time the
whole amount Of their winningsin cash,
not counting watches, would only foot
| up TO about 800. BY the time the ex.
press box business was ended two Of
| Belshaw's heavy teams from Los Angel
es drove up. The drivers were request
| ed to explain themselves, when they, too,
were stationed on the I'LL, making four
teen persons, all told, thus put on the
lookout by these two bold freebooters.
None Of these except Raymond and the
traveller land old Tex, Of course, since
lie was disabled by the shot were put