The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-09-15
How They Rob the Coach In the Classic
Regions Of California.
ISoncra Dcmocrst.l

ISonora Democrat
Last Saturday, just after noon, as the
stage from Milton was toiling up hill
about three miles this side of Copper
opolis, three gentlemen carrying shot
guns, stepped out into the road and in
the politestmanner imaginable requested
Sam Smith, the driver, to "hold his
horses" Sam glanced at the walking
arsenals and not recognizing the mystic
rious wayfarers through their cloth
masks, concluded that they were of a
sufficiently suspicious character TO be
obeyed. The next order was to the eff
feet that if the horses were removed, "a
little job" that they had to accomplish
would be greatly facilitated. Sam
growled at the unnecessary trouble they
were putting him to, but the spokesman
of the gentlemanly trio atfably informed
him that it was useless, and that he must
"obey orders if he broke owners"
Sam wanted to know then if they were
such fools as to believe that treasure of
any kind ever went into Tuolumn
County, informing them in his most
suave style that the glorious old county
had for years past been exporting her
wealth to enrich the poor capitalists and
bankers and stockholders of San Fran
cisco. He was interrupted by one of
the shotgun men with, " Oh, that's 100
thin, Sam. No watch in this, Sam.
Climb down old, boy, and unhitch those
horses Sam unhitched the horses, and
A. J. Murphy, who was one of the pas
sengers, began to walk away with one of
them when the golden sunlight flashing
back from the caps of a double-barreled
shotgun dazzled him and he stopped.
You look warm, Mr.. Murphy, very
warm. If you would be kind enough to
sit down under that tree and allow that
horse to browse where he stands, you
will get rested and oblige me-"
Murphy sat down under the tree-the
shotgun might be loaded, he thought,
and he was not sure that the man who
handled it knew the deadly character of
the tubes he carried. After the horses
had been taken out the men ordered the
lady passenger out of the stage, and then
producing a Jimmy" sledge and
other burglarious tools, proceeded to
break open the iron box under one of
the seats where they expected to find
Wells, Fargo a. Co.'S treasure. One of
them inserted the jimmy" and brought
the sledge down upon it with terrible
force. Gentlemen, you amt going to
break the stage, are your said Sam.
You needn't trouble yourself about
your stage, SAM" answered the man
with the sledge; I" if we smash it we're
able to pay for it. Well pay for the
coach, Sam; don't let that trouble you"
A few vigorous blows pried the box
open and the contents were taken out.
Sam was then allowed TO hitch his
horses, and then a request was made for
the express box. Nothing in it, gen
tlemcn, nothing but papers and way
bills" Oh hand it down, Sam, please.
We have got into this thing and we
might as well make a clean job of it,"
The box was handed down. Just before
permission was granted by the highway
men to drive on" one of them asked
Sam for chew of tobacco, which was
given. Murphy having rested long
enough under the shade of the tree by
the wayside, at this time approached the
trio, and with pleasant smile drew
from his pocket a flask of the best |
could find in Stockton, boys" He I'M
screwed the stopper ana proHereu the
flask The man drew back as he startled
the lookers-on with 81 am strictly tenn
perate, SIR"
To the next one.
"Not any for me, don't use it,"
To the third.
Excuse me, sir, we can not violate
our pledges"
To Sam.
Don't care if ] do. It's 'nough to
make man take to hard drink"
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.
Then the stage drove off and left the
complacent road agents sitting under a
buckeye dividing the spoils, amounting
to about eight hundred dollars, between
them, and as the passengers looked back
through the heated glare of the summer
sun, through the manzanita and the
scrub oak, in the shadow of which
foated the midsummer perfumes, back
over the dusty road to the fragrant
buckeye, they were still sitting; but til =
have in all probability left by this time