The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1880-10-12
fHR TRLsoRApH ROBBERS.
from the hartford Iimee.

Z
were obliged to wait on account of .
broken rail-tOld the following story
Ten years ago Was telegraph OPP
orator at q small town in New Jer.
sey, but my health failing. | gave up
my situation, and. taking an agency,
travel westward until | finally
reached San Francisco. While there.
] took q fancy to visit the mining re-
gions -. selecting suitable gods To
sell among the miners. | went. salts
fed my curiosity, made a little money
and was returning in the stage coach.
when the incidents [ am about to re-
late occurred, or at least began to &C.
cur.
There was besides myself three in
side passengers an old gentleman of
sixty and two roughly dressed men.
apparently miners. These two men
sat at opposite ends Of the coach. not
appearing to know each other. while
the old gentleman and myself sat
close together. noticed that the old
gentleman had . heavy tin or iron box
between his legs, which he seemed t"
be anxious TO keef. out Of sight.
After q short conversation with
him on general subjects allowed nv
self to drift gently into q duse; aud
while in that condition Inv ear. train
ed rs it was 70 the intelligent sound OF
the telegraph instrument, caught
faint tic. tic. which resolved itself into
the following words:
bill, the young one in going u
sleep, and ! will tend to him while
you pitch the old one out over the
precipice when make the signal, and
secure the box
i Was now wide awake a. il | had
been called by an operator to secure
message but ] pretended To- be still
DOING, while ] listened intsntly. Then
| heard the coach windows rattle, and
it read:
All right, Bob. We will be At the
Big Jump in twenty minutes, and then
give the word and out he goes
Taking . cautious look from between
my eyelids. saw that one Of the vii
las telegraphiug BY vibrating q knife
blade between his teeth. while the
other used the window for that pur-
Pose. neither Of them appearing to mo-
tice the other.
Il knew the prccipice Ia which they
referred. terrible place where miner
bad jumped off in . fit Of despair y,
bis bad luck. from which it Was known
- the Big Jump. How to communi-
cate t. the old gentleman I was at
loss 10 determine, but finally I took
out a newspaper and UNDERSIGNED the
words in lengthy editorial, which If
read consecutively. would read:
BE cautious, cir. The two williams
here intend to murder and rob us in
ten minutes. When | arise you At.
tack the one With the mns,aci,e, AMI !
will take the other. Kill if neces /.
sary.'
Then handed the paper to the old
gentleman. saying, Have You read
this. sir! It's most excellent edito- |
rial
He took the paper. put on hi.
glasses and began to read. Soon the |
underscored words drew his attention. |
and be began to study them. Then ]
saw him grow pale and feel for his box
with bis foot. Handing me back the
paper. be said significantly:
DO you believe that. sir9'
i know it to be true. said l.
Horrible said he, slipping his band
in his breast pocket, u stern look com.
ing 10 his face rs he added: Il be-
lieve that I'd feel like shooting some
OUe.' i
i saw had man of Courage u
help me, SO | cared little for the vii
famous smile which hrs remark brought
to one Of the rufiauis face. / saw
that We we're near the Big Jump and
we're going down a steep grade at
lively rate. when one OF the villains
tslegnphed. i
How"
The next minute | vas on him, 4
knocking him senseless with my re- 4
volver. The old gentleman did equal
y ~ we'll, the rulisns being taken BY
surprise at our sudden attack. W. .
had passed the precipice now. aud
calling 70 the driver TO stop, he and
Dne outside passenger helped to hind 4
DUP prisoners, whom We left inside.
while we climbed to the top. But
when We arrived in Sacramento we
|ound that the robbers had released
zach other and dropped out along the
road. A..
The old gentleman introduced him
'elf as Mr.. Stamford. a Sacramento
banker, and insisted upon nv accept .
ne the hospitality Of his home, saw
nR that / had saved his lite and
args amount Of money. I Cons .nt.d
md wss driven With him to his hand
'ome residence on the outskirts OF the q
:ity, where ] was introduced a. his e
wife and two daughters. the former o
Iind, motherIy woman, aud the latter q
! handsome brunette and pretty !
blonde. !
Three weeks stay at Rise Hill. Mr.
home. with It's lovely walks
mid . wreath Of tropical flowers. -
nd the society of Ella aud Blanche
lovlier. IL not more bean,i-
al than the flowers that blwm.d
round them. only served to make me "
Fisb for longer stay, aud when Mr. :,
offered me q position in his al
ankiDg house I most gladly accepted =
!. not failing to take courage from I.
be evident delight of the fair Blanche ii
whom | thou ht the lovIier Of the q
no sisters-when told her Of he Of .
er and decision. I.
About this time, Mr.. Stamford. At Il
is wifes request. replaced two Irish r