Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-15

scnsen arc usually allowed to go unmolcs.-
cd , aud the idea occurred to Mr.. Langford
,ha, he could escape robbery by assuming
the character Of messenger, aud looking the
bandit full in the fnce, he said:
II have no treasurer box aboard ON this
trip" !" :.
The robber replied that he knew better,
and that he would have no (oolishness about
1t. and that IL he didn't hand it over he
would make 1t hot for him. AS he said
this, he rode up to within two or three feet
OF the front OF the coach, still keeping his
cooked gun leveled upon LaHgford, who
moved his head from right to left, and fol-
ward and back, out Of the limo of range to
avoid an accidental shot, for he observed
that the robber was very nervous. Lang
iord says that the bore Of a gun barrel never
before seemed one.half as large, and
although it was but a star lit night. he
thought he could read the advertisement on
an old copy Of the New York Herald, used
for wadding. After parlcying about fifteen
minutes, Mr. Landlord produced the way.
pocket, and told the rObber that he could
examine the way. bill and satisfy himself
that there was no treasurer box aboard,
otherwise 1t would be noted on the way
bill The robber made the desired examin.
alton and seemed satisfied, but disappointed
at finding no treasure. Taking advantage
OF this occupation of the robber, Mr., Lang
ford quickly slipped his watch and other
vaiuables into his bootleg, though the rob
Der seemingly watched every movement of
Mr.. L. and Mexican Charlie. lest they should
draw pistol. But neither of them was
armed with any weapon.
Returning the way bill to its leathern
case, the robber asked in a surly tone: "Got
any passengers aboard."
I've got one man inside," said LangtOrd.
well, We want him." said the r0bber,
and with varied eXplctivc emphasis called
upon him to come out, at the same time
rattling the door of the coach. Stewart,
aroused from his slumbers, at once comprc.
hcnded the nature of the attack, and slip
ping small roll of grecnbacks into his shoe,
emerged from the coach.
Hold up your hands!" exclaimed the
robber.
Stewart obeycd with as little delay as pos.
sible. when the robbcr proceeded 10 search
him, but found nothing but one Mexican
dollar, and when informed that Stewart was
the company's blacksmith, his disgust was
| complete, and found vent in the cXclama-
ton:
mo treasurer box, no passengers, no
nothing" and left the dollar untouched.
Still keeping his gun ranged upon Lang
ford, he ordered the coach to drive on.
Langford said that he wanted the way pock.
ct, which the robbcr gratiously handed to
him, and then told the driver to "light out /"
Mexican Charlie needed no second invita-.
tion OF this kind.
Mr.. Langford owes his exemption from
robbery to his success in assuming the role
of messenger, which was all the more graft
flying from the fact that he had on his per-
son considerable sum of gold which the
Second national bank, of Santa Fe had en-.
trusted to his care TO be forwarded to New
York, the express companies having declin,
ed to carry gold or currency over this line,
owing to its numerous losses from robbery.