The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-09-18
ROAD AGENTS.
Rn''ty EXperience on Hank Monks Stage
Wn,',.. Ahable Highwayman Who


drivers, in relating their experiences n
a.e past always speak with pride ant
"hec,ion OF the ''Placerville route, ;
when mas been the scene of so man,
s'aftiihS adventures. Indeed, the Stat,
y hot' even now, free from the ravaoe.
.! maraudlng bands, who rob ON the
n,Shway and would steal from church
MANY daring stage robberies have beer
committed on the Placerville Road. be-
tween Sacramento, in the valley. and
Placerville, in the mountains. which
was also made famous by Greeley's
rae; A picture of the coach, with
i1ank Monk on the box and Mr.. Gree
icy $ venerable head bursting through
the top OF the coach, now adorns the
walls OF the Ormsby House. in Carson.
Some years ago | was "a passenger on
one OF these coaches, and it happened
70 be just at time when stage rob-
perles We're unusually frequent. We had
1ull list OF passengers, but | was the
only lady among them. was in charge
OF a gentleman friend of the family, who
MACE such boasts of bravery that it was
confidently expected that L should be
sa1ely delivered into the hands of nv fa-
ther at Placeryille. | had with me a
case OF jewels (Which | may here state
no woman had any use for at that time)
winch l intended to send by express.
but my valiant escort declared that the
eNpress-boX, which would be on the
same coach, would be the first thino
seized, and | had much better intrust
them to his care. He carried two re-
volvers and knife, which he said he
intended to use in case of attack, and
dld not mean to be robbed of any thing.
unless his life was first taken.
The stage-drivers never seemed TO
take any interest in these little affairs
Ihey were unarmed, carried Eothinp of
value about them, and simply halted
when commanded, and drove on when
ordered to do so. Their discretion was
certainly commendable, as resistance
was useless, and if they did not lose their
lives then they would certainly be as
sassinated if they attempted to make an
other trip. These trips are made with
no stoppages except for a change of
hofses and drivers and for meals. Six
horses were used and mad gallon the
only gait. The first night out there was
no apprehension, as we were not vet on
dangerous ground, and the passengers
dozed, chatted and complained of the
rough road, and, altogether, managed
to pass the night as comfortably as could
be expected under the circumstances.
ROBBED By HIGHwAYMEN.
As darkness closed in on the second
evening the passengers examined their
irms and decided not to sleep but keep
'n the lookout. The horses must have
1ept the road from instinct, for the
darkness was almost Egyptian in densi-
y, when suddenly, with swerve that
almost upset the coach, they came to
sudden stop. Though we had heard no
word of command the inside was i'm
nediately in state of confusion, sup
posing it to be road agents, and nv
Taliant protector hastily transferred the
ewel case to me along with his own
watch and purse, saying they would be
much safer in my possession. This
carcely occupied moments time
vhen the driver called ont that it was
My fallen tree and he would have to
ind some way ofgetting around it, and,
that could not be done, the pas
engers would have to assist in cutting
away, axes being slowed away
nder the seats in anticipation of acci-
ents of that kind, which frequently oc-
urred
We heard the driver climbing down
rom his perch, and as he struck the
round he uttered Il smothered exclama-
on, and at the same moment. i'm a
lear, commanding tone, came the order:
Hold up your hands, gentlemen.n and
ach side OF the coach bristled with the
arrels OF shot-guns. 1t is needless to
" that the order was instantly obeyed.
hey ''went through" =" the party in !,
luch less time than can relate it, and
the meantime | sat paralyzed in the
orner with my yaluables in full view. ..
last, with an effort, handed them !, ,
ward the leader, who was keeping nv
'cort covered" He held his revolver !
18th his right hand, and with his left |
olitely raised his hat, saying: "Miss,
)u wrong me; never accept any thing !.
ON a lady, The driver was then ]
lowed to resume his seat, and those j..
no were holding the horses showed the
ay around the tree, which had been =
hoV Aoi oiiC puIpOSt, anu, Wnlle the :.
zach was still kept covered,n the !,
der was given: "Drive on, and don't !
ok back" which order was strictly :,
I'd promptly obeyed Our passengers =
ere crest-fallen lot, and nothing more u
as heard of resistance, as they had all .
zen deprived of what had proved to be y !,
eless weapons. We reached our jour- a
y's end without urtherinterruption. u
SAVED BY STRATEGY. +
The Tom Bell gang was for many d
ars the terror of the mountain dis II
cts, and many tales are told of their h
wless deeds. My father was interest h
III the building of the Donner Lake r;
lgon-road, and in an encounter with Of
is gang managed by strategy to save e,
arge sum of money He was travel ot
: on horseback and carried some of
money in belt and portion in his
OTIS. He was accompanied by friend ci
lose route lay with his portion of the B
y, but to him he did not eonfide the re
t that he was carrying any consider &C
lie sum OF money, as his friend was in
turally timid man, and he did not =;
'e to add to the fears which already fr
ssessed him. About ten miles from a.
'ir destination their roads divided, the re-
end going to the place where the work III