The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-07
ROBBERY ON THE ROAD.
A STAGE STOPPED AND RIFLED.

A STAGE STOPPED AND RIFLED.
THE OVERLAND COACH HALTED IN LONELY
MOUNTAIN GORGE AND RIFLED-THE PAS
sENGERs MADE TO STAND AND DELIVER
CHIsUM, THE CATTLE KING, ONE OF The
VICTIMS.
The Messila, New Mexico, News says:
About 2 o'clock Wednesday morning, Janu-
airy 18th, as the coach which was coming
from Silver City to Mesilla, N. NJ,
was slowly going up the bad rocky
bill at Cooks canyon, three white
men, masked with handkerchiefs,
tied above their eyes and below their eyes,
with blankets on, stepped out from behind
the rocks. aimed their guns and revolvers
at Lancaster, the driver, and said: sect
down and stand at the head of your mules,
and don't you move or let the mules move,
or we will shoot you" He quietly COM
the driver told them young Fred. Kaiser
was the messenger, and they went
tosthe front boot, told him 10 "get out of
there" and as he looked out he found a re-
volver in close proximity to bis
head, and was ordered to "get down on the
'how many passengers you got?" He told
him two. He then sail; "Tell them to
Jump out" There were In the coach at the
time, John s. Chisum, ESQ.,, the seattle
king" of the West, and the Hon. L. +. Con-
way, attorney at law, and were both asleep.
Mr.. Chisum woke up, reard the last remark,
and thinking il was the dryer talking to
the messenger, and wanting them to walk
up the rocky canyon,
THREW BACK THE CURTAINS
and jumped out, but Immediately found a
revolver aimed at him, with the order.
"Hslti don't you move" and Shave you
got any arms?" 70 which he replied, mo
he never carried any arms, but bad to step
to the side of the road" to which they did
not object, but got Mr.. Conway out and
then started for the treasure In the express
box, which was under the front seat, having
obtained the key from the messenger. There
was only one rev Oliver about the coach,
and that was in the front boot. Mr.. Chisum
had 81 900 in gresnbacks in bis inside coat
pocket, and while the silver bricks were be-
ing taken out he kept taking from 500 TO
$500 at time from his pocket-book, with
out taking it out of bis pocket, and would
scatter it around in the sea. of his pants and
drawers, leaving about 500 in the pocket
book. One soon came, got the 500 and a
very fine gold watch, which cost $50 gold
coin in Idaho, and marked sc. G.. :" also a
heavy gold chain. He told
them "it would prove bitter pill for taking
it," AS the robber was sbeut to Start away,
MI. OIlSuu Salu. NOWs buls Is pEotb1
rough; / am long way from home; don't
like to beg; please give me enough to buy
grub on the road;" and the fellow gave
aim 81, saying, "Small favors," etc. Mr..
Conway, who, has been quite sickly and
weak OF late, was next visited and re-
lieved OF SIS in small bills, while they left
him S35 which was not found, and also
TOOK A FINE GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN,
for which Conway would not take $500. The
messenger was relieved of about 500, while
he driver was not molested-they probably
thinking he had nothing worth asking for
They secured about $4,000 in silver bricks,
and with the other things, amounting to
IS, 600. Three bricks were marked "FrOm II.
a. Porter" and three "From j. +. Ben
nett" and all addressed: Kountz Bros, n.
Y. After getting through all operations they
ordered the driver to "turn and take the
back track to Hot Springs, and if they
passed there before daylight they would
shoot al aboard" The driver remarked
that il was impossible to turn there, but
he would be compelled to 60 ahead a short
distance to turn, when they dropped their
guns and pistols on him and he
turned easier than he first thought
he could and started back; but alter
travelling about an hour, Mr.. Chisum in
sisted on resuming their proper course.
saying, "the coaches generally passed each
other in the canyon, and ifthey were taking
in the other coach, he wanted to see the
fun" They turned again, met the coach
coming from the east, which had been de-
lsyed in crossing the river, and they said
they passed the party about a mile east OF
where they robbed the coach, coming out
of the canyon on their horses, but it not
being very light, they passed without 9
word, as the coach going west seldom has
anything of much value aboard.
THIS BOLD AND DARING ROBBERY
occurred about sixty miles from Mesilla, and
about two miles from Fort Cummings
which is now abandoned, and we believe i
/ this fort had not been abandoned, this rob
berry never would have occurred. If oul
forts are to be given up, and our protection
10 which we certainly are entitled, taker
from us, there is nothing to prevent re
curTence of this affair every week
and the stage and express compan,
and the people generally, are at the mercy
OF lot OF frontier desperadoes and tramps
Tho robbers were tracked about forty mile
/ to where the read forks, one going t.
Mesilla and the other to Fort Selden, boil
on the Rio Grande. The silver brick
/ weighed about 800 pounds, which must hav
been pretty heavy load for three horses t,
carry, besides their riders, and travel q
/ their gait. Suspicion is sttsche'
to certain persons, but we will no
now mention any name, as it may interior
Il xx-;f 10, v,lo IofI 80 ffo he