The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-11
ROAD AGENTS.
A Lively Experience on Hank Monks Stage
Route-The Affable Highwayman Who
Would Not Rob a Lady.

"A Lively Experience on Hank Monks Stage
Roulette Affable Highwayman Who
Would Not Rob Lady.
/ Correspondence of the Philadelphia Times
Old California and Nevada stage
drivers, in relating their experiences OF
the past, always speak with pride anC
affection of the Placerville route, ,
which has been the scene of so many
| startling adventures. Indeed, the State
is not, even now, free from the ravage,
of marauding bands, who rob on the
highway and would steal from a 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
ride" A picture of the coach, with
/ Hank Monk on the box and Mr. Gree
| ley's venerable head bursting through
the top of the coach, now adorns the
walls of the Ormsby House, in Carson
/ Some years ago | was passenger on
one of these coaches, and it happened
to be Just at a time when stage rob-
berries were unusually frequent. We had
full list of passengers, but | was the
only lady among them. was in charge
of a gentleman friend of the family, who
made such boasts of bravery that it was
confidently expected that | should be
safely delivered into the hands of my IA
Their at Placerville. | had with me a
case of jewels (Which | may here state
no woman had any use for at that time)
which | intended to send by express,
but my valiant escort declared that the
expression, which would be on the
same coach, would be the first thing
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
did 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.
They were unarmed, carried nothing 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
horses and drivers and for meals Six
horses were used and a mad gallop 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
arms and decided not to sleep but keep
ON the lookout. The horses must have
kept the road from instinct, for the
darkness was almost Egyptian in densi-
ty, when suddenly, with swerve that
almost upset the coach, they came to Il
sudden stop. Though we had heard no
word of command the inside was i'm
mediately in a state of confusion, sup
posing it to be road agents, and my
valiant protector hastily transferred the
jewel case to me along with his own
watch and purse, saying they would be
much safer in my possession. This
scarcely occupied moments time
when the driver called ont that it was
only fallen tree and he would have to
find some way of getting around it, and,
if that could not be done, the pas
sengers would have to assist in cutting
it away, axes being slowed away
under the seats in anticipation of acct
dents of that kind, which frequently oc-
Cured.
We heard the driver climbing down
from his perch, and as he struck the
ground he uttered a smothered eXclama-
ton, and at the same moment, in a
clear, commanding tone, came the order:
"HOld up your hands, gentlemen!' and
each side of the coach bristled with the
barrels of shot-guns. 1t is needless to
say that the order was instantly obeyed.
They event through - the party in
much less time than | can relate it, and
in the meantime | sat paralyzed in the
corner with my valuables in full view
At last, with an effort, | handed them
toward the leader, who was keeping my
escort - covered He held his revolver
with his right hand, and with his left
politely raised his hat, saying: "MiSs,
you wrong me; never accept any thing
from a lady" The driver was then
allowed to resume his seat, and those
who were holding the horses showed the
way around the tree, which had been
felled for the purpose, and, while the
coach was still kept covered" the
order was given: "Drive on, and don't
look back which order was strictly
and promptly obeyed. Our passengers
were a crest-fallen lot, and nothing more
was heard of resistance, as they had all
been deprived of what had proved to be
useless weapons. We reached our jour
ney's end without further interruption.
SAVED BY STRATEGY.
The Tom Bell gang was for many
years the terror of the mountain dis
tricts, and many tales are told of their
lawless deeds. My father was interest
ed in the building of the Bonner Lake
wagon-road, and in an encounter with
this gang managed by strategy to save
large sum of money. He was travel
ing on horseback and carried some of
the money in belt and portion in his
boots. He was accompanied by friend
whose route lay with his portion of the
way, but to him he did not confide the
fact that he was carrying any consider
able sum of money, as his friend was
naturally timid man, and he did not
care to add to the fears which already
possessed him. About ten miles from