Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-16
H R UP YOUR HANDS,"
Narrow Escape or a MinnesOtian
1f0m heing Robbed by Road
agents In New Mexico.

NHrEOW Escape OF n M1mne0Oltau
Agents in New Mexico.
st. Paul Pioneer.l
From the Trinidad aud Ell Moro
Chronicle Of July 4 we take the follow.
ing account of q rather interesting ad.
venture which befell Mr.. N. P. Lancford.
of st. Paul, while returning from Santa
Fe in . stage coach which was stopped
by two h~ighwaymen:
The overland stage that reached Trin.
dad on Friday evening last, from Santa
Fe, was attacked about 2 o'clock Friday
morning while passing the Buttes about
eight miles North Of Eureka, by two
highwaymen. Mr.. N. P. Langford, the
United States bank examiner, who was
returning from an official visit to Santa
Fe, was the only passenger, and occupied
the outside seat by the side of the driver;
while Mr.. Stewart, the blacksmith for
the stage company, vas inside the coach
asleep. The moon had not arisen, and
the horses were slowly ascending the
grade, when the robbers suddenly spraug
from the outside, one Of them seizing the
leaders by the bits, while the other, call.
ing "HAltl' covered the driver, Mex.
can Charlie and Mr.. Lsngford with his
gun, warning both not to move a hand,
adding Immediately:
81 WANT THAT TREASURE BOxl'
Mexican Charlie replied that there was
no treasure box aboard, but the robber re-
piled that he knew better, and demanded
that it be produced forthwith.
While numerous robberies have taken
place on this line, drivers or express
messengers are usually allowed to 90 IN
molested; and the idea occurred to Mr..
Langford that he could escape robbery
by assuming the character Of messenger,
and looking the bandit full in the face
he said:
II have no treasure box aboard on thit
trip"
The robber replied that be knew bet
ter, and that he would have
NO FooLIsHNEss ABOUT IT,
and that if be didn't hand it over b,
would make it hot for him. As he sale
this, he rode up within two or three fee
Of the front of the coach, still keepin,
his cooked gun leveled upon Langford
who moved his head from right 10 left
and forward and back, out of the line o
range to avoid any accidental shot, fo
he observed that the robber was yer,
nervous. Laugford says that the borl
Of a gun barrel new before seemed
one.half as large, and although it wal
bat a starlit night, he thought be could
read the advertisements on an old copJ
Of the New York Herald, used for wad
ding. After parleying about ffteer
minutes, Mr.. Langfori produced the
way pocket, and told the robber he could
examine the wsy.bill and satisfy himself
that there was no treasure box aboard
otherwise it would be noted on the way
bill. The robber made the desired ex
~aminatioa and seemed satisfied, but dis
appointed at finding no treasure. TAX
ing advantage of this occupation of tht
robber, Mr.. Langiord quickly slipped biz
watch aud other valuablss into his boot
leg, though the robber seemingly watched
every movement Of Mr.. Langford anC
Mexican Charlie, lest they should draw
a pistol. Bat neither Of them was armed
with any weapon.
Returning the way bill 10 its leatherr
case, the robber asked in q surly tone:
Got any passengers aboard p
I've got n man inside" said Lang
ford
Well, we want him" said the robber
and with varied expletive emphasis CALLED
upon him to com out, at the same time
rafting the door of the coach. Stewart
aroused from his slumbers, at once com
pretended the nature Of the attack, RnC
slipping a small roll of ~greenbacks intc
his shoe, emerged from the coach.
Hold up your hands, exclaimed the
robber.
Stewart obeyed with as little delay a,
possible, when the robber proceeded Il
search him, but found nothing but en-,
Mexican dollar, and when informed tina
Stewart vas the company's blacksmith
his disgust was complete, and found ven
in the exclamation:
No treasure box, no passengers, no
n%othingr' and left the dollar untouched.
Still keeping his gun ranged upon
Langtord, he ordered the coach to drive
on. LAngford said that he wanted the
way pocket, which the robber graciously
handed to him, and then told the driver
to light out" Mexican Charlie needed
no second invitation of this kind.
Mr.. Lang(ord owes his exemption from
robbery to his success in assuming the
role Of messenger, which was all the
more gratifying from the fact that h,
had on his person a considerable sum O
gold which the Second National Bank o.
Snta Fe had entrusted TO his care to b,
forwarded to New York, the express
companies having declined to carry golt
or currency over this line, owing TO it
numerous losses from robberv.