The daily gazette., 1877-07-12
Deadwood Coach Robbery.
HOW THE ROAD AGENTS CONDUCT
BUSIN ESS BETWEEN CHEf-
ENNE AND DEADWOOD.
;or. st Louis Republican


Cor. st Louis Republican,.
When about TWO miles from the station,
storm abating little, We descended into
a verv deep, dry gulch, made short turn
in it and then began tie ascent on the
other side. One Of the passengers ON the
left says, "Boys, this is bully place for
the road agents." and the words were
scarcely out of his mouth when we heard
the cry from seemingly a dozen throats
"Stop that team, G-d d-n you "Throw
off that treasure box" followed imme-
diatel> by the sharp report of rifle and
cry from the driver as he dropped from
the box, "I'm shot" The passenger on
the left with the rife at once fired at the
only agent he could see, but unfortunate
ly missed him. The robbers on the left,
being even with the box, only the man
ON the back seat could see them, and we
on the right hand side of the coach might
as well have been in sack with string
tied around the neck, for the curtains
being battened down, shut oil our vision.
The shot flom the coach called forth from
the agents such remarks as: "Another
shot from that coach aud We II massacre
the whole crowd "Drop your arms aud
come out of there" "We've got the
drop on you and you'd better get out"
"Come out of there what are you wait
ing for ?'' | leave out the profanity
which interlarded the above remarks
As each one stepped ont lie looked into
the muzzles of three guns, and was met
with the command: "Drop your arms
and put your bands up to your hats" in
very short, quick, emphatic manner.
We then saw that the robbers were five
in number. We were arranged in line,
with four outlaws as a guard, and
wachfJl guard, too, while the captain
went over TO where the driver was TO see
if he was badly hurt. Finding that the
wound was slight, being flesh wound
in the side, about half way between the
ribs aud the hip joint, be ordered the
driver to drive the coach up the incline to
level ground. Wien this was done he
made the driver take the horses off the
coach and stand by them The captain
then came TO the line of passengers and
Welt through them for money, watches,
etc. by this time the clouds had passed
away, and the moon shone as bright AMI
beautiful as it ever did, and by the light
we saw that the robbers were all masked
and four OF them armed with Sharpe's
rifles and Tevolvers and one with shot
gun and revolver. The captain had
searched all but two of us when he sud
denly stopped, went to the coach and
looked for the treasure box. | suppose
he thought he had better get that for fear
of interruption.
The first box he got out of the boot was
"a wooden one, iron-bouhd, being the box
from Custer City. He soon broke that
epen with hatchet but found nothing in
it except some specimens of ore, Custer
City being played out town. He said
on opening, "By God, I'm going to burn
that town; it amt worth d-n, any
how Two which the other four Joined
in hearty response. Then lie went for
the Deadwood box, but found it harder
job, being of boiler iron and riveted in
the bottom of the boot to the frame of
the coach. He worked at it faithfully
for nearly an hour, trying the hatchet aud
everything else he could get a hold of,
but made no progress. One of the messen-
gers said: "G ou can't get that out; that
was tried last night, and the fellows had
to give it up after working an hour and a
half" The Captain said he knew what
he was about, and he could blow the
id think out, but was afraid of hurting
the contents. At last he called for pow
der, and packed the lock well with it,
; then turning around, says to us, "boys, if
We make good treasure haul we'll give
you back what we have taken from you.''
A match was applied, the captain stepped
] down off the coach-fizz, bang-a blaze
l ha 90 Mt in
| there putting out the fire. A hasty look
and he yelled out, "by Cd, boys,
we've got it this time; there's $4,000
here" He lifted the box out to the
ground near the front wheel of the coach
and taking off one of the coach lamps lit
1t and sat down to inspect the bonanza
One OF our guards went up to see it well
done. 1t was weird sight, and | would
like to have photograph of our party
then for show only, for it is indefinitely
impressed on 'my minds eye." Here
were the horses with the driver, at theil
heads, then the passengers with three
masked alen standing near them still a:
statues, with pointed guns, then the
horseless coach, and on the ground the
"busted" treasure box and bending over il
two masked men, eagerly taking out and
examining the packages, making playful
remarks all the while, such as: "BS
George! this is daisy" "S25, {. o. D..
well that's good whisky money" Hello
check here for $500-we'll put that back
we don't want any checks" They got
very nice treasure; there must have beer
at least in currency and dust $4,000
The currency the captain put in hi.
pockets, which were ample; the dust WA
put into sack. The other coach being
behlndhand, and the prospect being tina
it would be delayed some time owing t,
the storm, the robbers one by one disap
peared into the gulch with their booty
and We. sadder, poorer and no wise
lot, made ready to continue. | shoult
say that the captain refunded few dol
lars usually $lO-to the passengers st
pay travelling expenses. "and gave severa
revolvers back, after having shot then
off and taken the ammunition away.
| TIIDEE EVEGITTJnNA,