Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-10-16

Sees far above LIES rainbow CLEANS and
showers,
Fen as the stars in Ged's own kingdom shin.
Her treasure hid beneath the chur chyard
flowers.
Adventures With Road Agents.
Old California stage-drivers, in relat-
ing their experience of the past, always
speak with pride and affection of the
"Placerville route" which has been the
scene of SO many strange and startling
adventures. Indeed, The State is not,
even now, free from the ravages of ma
rauding bands, who rob on the highway,
and would steal from a church. Many
daring robberies have been committed
on the Placervllle road, between Sacra-
mento, in the valley, and Placerville, in
the mountains, which was also made IA
nous by "Greely's ride" A picture of
the coach, with Hank Monk on the box;
and Greely's venerable head bursting
through the top of the coach, now adorns
the walls of the Ormsby house, in Car
son.
Some years ago, l was passenger on
one of these coaches, and it happen
ed to be just at the time when stage
r0bberies were unusually frequent We
had full list of passengers, but 1 was
the only lady among them. I was in
charge Of a gentleman friend of the fami-
ly. who made such boasts Of bravery that
it was confidently expected that I should
be safely delivered into the hands of my
father at Placerville.. I had, with me
case of jewels (which / may here state
no woman had any use Of at that timc),
and which intended to send by express,
but my valiant escort declared that the
express box, 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 rcvolvers and
knife, which he said he intended to use
in case Of an attack, and did not mean
to be robbed of anything, unless his life
was 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 aid not loose their lives then,
they would certainly be assasinated If
they attempted another tri p- These trips
are made with no stoppages, except for
change of horses and drivers, and for
meals. Six horses were used and mad
gallop the only gait The first night out
there was no apprehension, as we were
not vet on dangerous ground, and the
passengers dozel and chatted, and COM
planned of the rough road, and, altogeth-
er, managed to pass the night as COM
fortably as could be expected under the
circumstances.
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 dark
ness was almost Egyptian in density
when suddenly, with q swerve that al
most upset the coach, they came to full
stop. Though we had heard no word of
command, the inslde was Immediately in
state of confusion, supposing it to be
road agents, end my valiant protector
hastily transferred tho jewel.casc to me,
along with his own watch and purse, say
IND they would be much safer in my pos
session. This scarcely occupied o mo-
mcnt's time, when the driver called out
that il was only a fallen tree, and he.
would have to find some way of getting
around it; and if that could be doue, the
passengers would have to assist in cut
ting it away, axes heing slowed away un4
der the seats, in anticipation of accidents
ofthat kind, which frequently occur.
We heard the driver climbing down
from his perch, and as he struck the
ground he uttered q smothered exclama-
ton, and at the same moment, in clear,
commanding tone, came the order, "Hold
up your hands, gentlemen r. and each
side of the coach bristled with the BAR
rels of shot-guns. It is needless to say
that the order was instantly obeyed. They
"went through" the party in much less
time than I can relate #, 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 "cov-
ered." He held his revolver with his
right hand, and with the LETT politely
raised his hat, saying, "Miss, you wrong
me; never accept any thing from 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 stlll kept 'cov-
ered,"'. the order was given, "Drive on,
and don't look back!" which order was
strictly and promptly obeyed. Our pas
sengers were q crestfallen lot, and nothing
more was heard of resistance, as they
had all been deprived of what proved to
be useless weapons. We reached our
Journey g end without further interruption
The Tom Bell gang was for many years
the terror of the mountain districts, and
many tales are told of their lawless deeds.
NV father was interested in the building
Of the Bonner Lake wagon road, and II
an encounter with this gang managed by
strategy toisave . large sum OF money
He was travelling on horseback, and car
ried some of the money in belt and
portion in his boots. He was accompan.
led by . friend whose route lay with his
portion of the way, but to him he did
not confide the fact that he was carrying
anyf considerable sum OF money, as his
friend was naturally timid man and he
did not care to add to the fears which al.
ready, possessed him. About ten miles
from their destination their roads. divided
the friend going to the place where the
workingmen were quartered, and my "a
Their to the house of friend where he in.
tended to pass the night. He logged
along leisurely for d while or more, and
as it was now about six in the evening
was thinking Of fastening his steps IN
order to reach his stopping place before
dark, not expecting any trouble in day
light, when he was suddenly Joined by
horseman. The civilities Of the day were
exchanged, and they rode on together,
cenversing upon topics Of current
interest, work on the road, mining
in the neighborhood, etc. At length
the stranger asked carelessly where he,
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