The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-04-07
A TRAP FOR SEVEN.

An incident Of Travel on the Frontier.
Catch a rat in a trap and he will fight.
Trap a man, and well, you can't RELY
on him. It is according to the trap. In
the heavy .stage-coach, as we roll out of
Leadville, are seven men. Ons is an
army officer who has half dozen scars
to prove his bravery. Cut off from his
command on the plains last summer by
score of Indians, he intrenched himself
and fought the band off until help ar
rived. Two Of the others are despera.
does, who have killed their men. Three
ct the others are stalwart miners each
armed with two revolvers, and they look
as, il they would prove ugly customers
in a fight. t
The seventh man might do some
shooting on pinch, but he hopes there
will be no pinch. In the crowd are ten
revolvers, two derringers, three repeat
ing rifles, and four or five bowie knives,
and there is perfect good feeling as the
stage rolls along. It is tacitly under
stood that army Captain is to assume
command in case the coach is attacked.
and that all are to keep cool and fire to
kill.
1t is 10 o'clock in the morning. The
windows are down and the passengers
are smoking and talking and seeking for
comfortable positions. The coach has
just reached the top of hill, when
every horse is suddenly pulled up.
eff it's q bar, We'll have some fun
growled one Of the miners, as he put his
head out Of the window.
&c If it's robber, gin me the first pop
OF hi, xryI,I - j.
does.
No one could say what the trouble
was, when wiry little chap about five
feet six inches tall, with black eyes and
hair, clean face and thin lips, app AIRED
at the left-hand door with cooked re-
volver in either hand, and said:
Gents, I'm sorry to disturb you, but
I've got to make raise this morning.
Please leave your shooters and climb
down here, one at time!'
It twas sudden. It was so sudden that
it took ten seconds to understand the
drift Of his remarks. Then every eye
turned to the right-hand door, and the
two revolvers held by second robber
were seen at the open window. It was
d trap. The rats were caught, and would
they fight :? ..-., ..'....s..,.
Gents, I'm growing leetle impa-
tient," continued the first robber, s.and
I want to see the procession begin to
move." -
Let's see. The Captain was to lead
us, and we were to be cool and fire to
kill. But the Captain was growing white
around the mouth, and nobody had a
weapon in hand. The rats were not go
i,,o- TO- <r1, 70 =
the door and descended, and the other
six humbly followed. The seven were
drawn up in line across the road, and
while the robber held his shooter on the
line he coolly observed to his partner:
CHOW, William, you remove the
weapons from tho coach, and then search
these gentlemen.
AS William obeyed, every victim was
ordered to hold his hands above his
head, and whatever plumber was taken
from his pockets was dropped into Will
Jams hat. -Four gold watches, two dia-
mond pins, a telescope, a diamond ring,
a gold badge and 81 200 in cash changed
hands in ten minutes. Not man had
a word to say. The driver Of the coach
did not leave his seat, and was not in
terfered with. When the last man Lad
been plundered the genteel Dick Turpin
kindly observed
you are the most decent set of men
[ ever robbed, and if times weren't so
blasted hard I'd make each of you
present OF $40. Now, then, climb back
to your places and the coach will go
on.
The crowd "clumb," and the vehicle
resumed its journey. Not weapon or
q timepiece or dollar had been saved.
Seven well-armed men had been cleaned
out by two, and not a shot fred OF
wound given. Each man took his seat
without vor4 Mile after mile was
passed in silence, SD finally the seventh
mantle one who might fight on q
pinch, but didn't plaintively suggested:
Cant some Of you gentlemen think
of few remarks which would be apro-
pos to the occasion %
No one could, and the silence was re-
nswed.