Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-18
AN EMPTY BOX.
Disheartening Disappointment to a Band
of Road Agents.
tDeadwood Daily Champion, July 12th.l

tDeadWood Daily Champion, July l2th.l
The Sidney stage which left here Tuesday
morning was attacked the same night by
road agents two miles north of French creek
ranch, and about eighty miles distant from
Deadwood. 1t was about midnight, the
driver Mcclellan, was guiding his team
through a deep deile through which a road
passed. when a single horseman dashed out
in front of the stage and ordered the driver
to halt. Mcclellan reined up his horses.
Looking a few rods on one side of the road
he discovered four other men all mounted
and well armed. After the first salutation
of ordering the driver TO halt, the highway
man asked him if he was armed, receiving
an answer in the negative he then told him
to hand outth treasure box. The driver com
piled with his request. Instead of breaking
it with crowbars or powder fuses, he quietly
drew from his pocket a number OF skele-
ton keys and after a little manipula-
tation with the lock, showing him to
be an expert, the lock yielded to his
touch, and the lid sprung open, but a look
Of disgust and disappointment overshadowed
the expect mt highwayman's countenance as
he surveyed the emptiness Of the box-not a
driver that they must be a very poor COM
pd1S LIldl COulu nOt dlOIQ " Cdlll u lew
dollars in their treasury box. In the course
of the conversation with the driver he told
him that his party were well armed, each
man, he said, carried a Spencer rife a revolver
and a knife. The highwayman then inquired
as to the probable time and place at which
the north bound stage would be along. The
drivertold him thatifnot delayed it ought to
be along in about three quarters of an hour.
After satisfying himself that there was no
treasure aboard the highwayman told the
driver to go on. The latter of course
was not slow to obey the i%njunc-
ton and 80 giving the reins to his team
was soon out of sight. Reaching French
Creek rancho he notified those living there
of his little adventure and without delay
hurried along to meet anc notify the north
ern bound stage, met the stage coming to
| Deadwood and notified it of what had trans
pired After consultation it was decided to
drive up to French Creek rancho and lay
over until morning. When within a f W
hut dred yards of the rancho the driver and
passen. ere unhitched the stage horses, put
them away in thu rancho corral, each man
then picked up his blanket and most valua
BILE articles, and lying down fiat on the
prairie, awaited either dayl ght or the threat
ened attack, when just before daylight man
supposed to be one of the highwayman, rode
up and around the stage, gave two d.atinct
but subdued whistles and then departed. 1t
is believed the highwaymen thought the pas
sengers had taken quarters in the ranch, and
were afraid to make an attack on it. The
names Of the passengers on the outgoing
coach which left here yesterday were Messrs.
Duncan, S. M. Woods, Henry Argyle, f. G..
Washburne, NJ q. Taller and Mrs. J. S.
Beale. The supposition is that the highway
men supposed that Mr.. Woods, of the bank
ing firm of Stebbins, Wood & Post was on
board of the stage with a large amount of
money, but it SO happened that Mr.. w.
couldn't get of on Tuesday mornings stage
being:.delayed till this morning. 1t is believ
ed that the stage which left here this morn
ing will be attacked. but as all the passengers
have been notified they will have had time
to stow away their valuables in come sac
place. The names of the passeng' rs who ar
rived on last nights coach are: A. T. Mich
OILS of Corrunna, Mich, A. Gariesson, Yer
non, Mich, and George Caruthey Of North
Newberg, Mo.