Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-04-19
The Black Hills Highwaymen.

. The Black Hills Highwaymen.
Last week we gave a short accoun,
OF a daring attempt at stage robbery
and killing of the driver, by a band
of road agents in the Black Hills. we
were indebted to Jack Gilmer for the
item, and since that time have gained
further particulars. A private letter,
dated March 3lst, received by Ed.
Dodge, the urbane book. keeper at w.
III. Clark's, gives the following accoun;
of the outrage:
"TI.e present week was ushered in
by one Of the >addest events, and most
daring of o%utrages. On last Sunday
night about ii O'Clock, as the coach
from Cheyenne was nearing town, five
masked robbers, or road agents. were
awaiting its approach a short distance
above the arastra, near the mouth of
Gold Run. The coach contained ten
passengers and the driver, John
Slaughter. On top were seated Mr..
Her and Mr.. f. Phillips, the other
eight occupying seats within. Some
of the passengers observed five men
walking ahead of the coach; being a
very light and beautiful night, the cur
tains were up. Three of the men were
on one side of the road and two on the
other. Mr.. Lake, one of the passen-
gers, vas seated in the center of the
coach, aud Icing crowded, kept the
door open, and had his feet outside.
Mr.. Wustum, who occupied the other,
saw two men coming from the brush,
and as they approached, cried, hold
on, and commenced firing in me-
diately. AT the same tins a
masked robber on the left thrust
two pistols in the face of Mr.. Lake,
who Immediately let go his hold
of the door, showed it open, and
grasped one Of the pistols presented at
him. Instantaneously the robber fired
both weapons, but Mr.. l.. still contin-
ued his bold, and in the struggle was
pulled out of the coach, while falling
the robber fired twice. Another Of the
party at the saii.e time fired a shotgun,
hitting the driver, John Slaughter,
who fell to the ground dead. The
same charge struck Mr.. ller on the
left elbow, passing along his hand, and
tearing off the sleeve of his overcoat,
wounding the side of the hand, and
taking off the end OF his little finger.
The rutfians on the right side OF the
coach thrust therein two pistols, and
commenced firing, three shots lodging
in the side of the door. Mr.. Smith, Of
Denver, bad his face badly marked
with the powder, n ball passing over
his shoulder, tore his coat, but iortu-
nately. caused no further damage. The
took fright and an. Mr.. Her
fell from the drivers seat at the same
time Slaughter received his death
wound, but recovering himself, fol-
the coach closely. The horses
ran about half a mile and stopped,
Her quickly coming up with
them. Mr.. Lake was left behind, and
was surrounded by the road agents,
who stopped firing at the coach, and
around him, presented their
pistols and ordered him to throw up
his hands. lie did so, and said,
"you can have anything I've got"
They demanded his money, but with
great presence of mind and GOODNESS,
he said he had none. The same de-
man was repeated. Mr.. l.. replied,
have just arrived from Cheyenne,
and am broke; If you do not
believe me, you al search me-"
Four of the gang consulted apart for
"A few moments, when one of the num-
Der told him he could &C. He started
the road and kept in the brush
about thirty yards, looking back care
and watching the robbers, who
wendell their way up the hill. When
he reached the road he ran about three
hundred yards. then slackened his
pace and proceeding about half a mile
saw the coach. He there
found all the passengers, none miss
ing saving the poor victim, Slaughter.
Mr.. Her took charge OF the team and
the coach to Dead wood. The
news quickly spreading great excite
prevailed, but up to the date OF
none of the highwaymen had
been apprehended.