West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1877-09-08
A Famous Ride 10 Kingston.
'INrony ESrwssl


The writer sat in wcll-known saloon
at noon yesterday, eating delicious
salad and swcltering over a cup of hot
tea, when the proprietor stepped up.
"The boys have II nice day for their
excursion at Kingston" said he.
They have, indeed. Ever been
thcrcG'
Eyes; took a couple of bauk robbers
down there twenty-five or thirty years
ago"
Indced," =
/" Yes, sir, Never told you about that
affair, did %
"Non
We'll, | will. II was--let me see
IN 1910. was working at the Old Eagle
Tavern; had u couple of nice horses. and
Tor young man, was doing fine bust
ness. Those days there was neither
railroads nor telegraph. The stage coach
was the only mode of public travel, aud
it was the event of the day to see the
coaches from the West and New York
hustle into the tavern yard. You know
where the tavern stood, don't your"
"N-no, think not
Corner of Broadway and Hamilton.
Well, one cold morning, i'm the middle
OF December, | was Just stepping out
from the office to the long wooden veran.
dah, when | noticed two we'll dressed
gentlemen, each carrying good-sized
travelling satchel, hurrying toward the
hotel. One of them addressing me, said
Stage for New York gone yet?'
Yes, sir"
How longW
Morn two hours ngo."
They were much excited over the
news, and asked what, they could do 20
get To New York speedily. | told them
| didn't know. The boats had stopped
running month, although one of them
still ran to Kingston, the river being
open that far up. She would leave that
evening for Now York, and the stage
coach which left Albany couple of
hours before would transfer its passen-
gers and mails to the steamer at King
ston Point. Then the gentlemen said
they must get that boat, and asked if /
knew of couple of fast horses i'm the
city, and if they could hire or get n car
riagc to beat the stage in. IL was mat
ter of life and death, they said, and
they would pay any price. | asked what
price, and they told me they would pay
six hundred dollars To beat the stage To
Kingston. II was u big sum, and |
whistled, but / told them I'd take them.
and OIL ran. ] found friend of mine
Hank Lcwis--wc hitched up the
horses To four-scatcd sleigh the two
gentlemen bought some whisky, and
away we went "hcltersplit" for King
ston. Lord, how we did gol Two hours
behind the stage, and yet before we
reached Athens we passed IL. Near Cat
skill the horses gave out completely,
and we had To hire u new team. | didn't
want to go any further on account of the
horses, but one of the gentleman asked.
What is that team of yours worth 2"
"Threc hundred dollars" | said.
Drive on" he answered, '1'll pay
for them"
Once we tipped over, and half an
hour was spent in getting to rights. Then
we went ut il again, and at half past
four we drove up 10 Kingston Point,
where the steamer lay all loaded, but
waiting for the Albany mail.
The two gentlemen went on board and
asked for Captain Dean. He came aft.
and they told him what they told Lewis
and i coming down. How they resided
IN Canada, but were sons of an English
nobleman, who had died recently, ldav-
ing valuable estate. Their presence
was needed Immediately in London, If
they would save the estate from dc
signing relative. The packet sailed from
New York for Liverpool on the first tide
the next morning. They must get 10 or
wait thirty days for the neSt ship, and
30 lose their fortune. They offered the
Captain two thousand dollars if he would
leave then and there, and make certain
of catching the ship.
Would like to make that two thou
sand dollars, gentlemen" said Captain
Dean, but my orders are not 10 leave till
get the Albany mail, and ! can not ac-
cept."
They seemed much disappointed, but
said lit couldn't be expected, and then
they made themselvesagrceable toevery-
body about. They paid me the six hun
dred dollars promised gave me three
hundred dollars for the lost horses, and
gave the driver and the men over one
hundred dollars each. We waited until
the stage came in; the mails and pas
sengers were transferred; away went
the boat in hurry. Then we rode leis-
urcly back TO Albany, it being a fine
night, but before we got there we met
the mounted police furiOusly coming
after our passengers, The dead noble
mans bogus sons. They were bank
robbers, and those two satchels they
held contained over 5000, 600 in gold and
Bank Of England notes, the proceeds of
a big Montreal robbery.
Did they catch themT'
Catch 'eml No. When the boat
started that night they talked with Cap
tain Dean and offered him five hundred
dollars if he would put them ON board
OF the outward bound ship before be
landed, as she would be lying in the
channel. Captain Dean accepted, and
just at daylight the steamboat lay along
side the vessel, and by the time Captain
Dean got to his pier and the passengers
awOke, the ship was sailing through the
BarrOws and away 10 England"
and the robbers were never heard
OFF,
Never. Why they had start of
thirty days and, being young men, they
arc perhaps living in clover in some
European country on their ill-gOttcn
wealth. They were smart enough to
take us in by their smooth talk and
gentlcmanly address"
Just then the salad was finished, and
50 was the story. The writer picked up
his check and Mr. Veazie walked to an
a Al Il A. II.