The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-07
"Hold Your Hands Up"

Catch rat in trap and he will fight.
Trap man, and-well, you can't rely Oh
him. 1t is according to the trap. In the
heavy stage coach as we rolled out of Lead
vile, says frontier letter. are seven men,
| One is an army officer who has half-a-
| dozen scars to prove his bravery. Cut off
| from his command on the plans last sum-
mcr by score of Indians, he entrcnched
himself and fought the band off until help
| arrived. Two of the others arc dcspcra-
does, wh) have killed their men. Three
OF the others are stalwart miners, cach
armed with two rcvoivers, and they look
as il they would prove uglytcustomers in u
fight.
The seventh mau might do some shoot
ing Oh pinch, but he hopes there will be
no pinch. In the crowd are ten revolvcrs,
two dcrringcrs, three repeating rifles, and
four or five bowlc-knivcs, and there is per,
feet good feeling rs the stage rolls along.
1t is tacitly understood that the army cap
tain is to assume command III case the
coach is attacked, and that all arc to keop
cool and fire to kill.
1t Is 10 O'Clock in the morning. The
windows arc down and the passengers are
smoking and talking and trying to seek for
comfortable positions The coach has Just
reached the top of u hill, when every horse
is suddenly pulled up.
''f it's a bar we'll have some fun"
grOwlcd one OF the miners, as he put his
head out OF the window.
III it's robbcr, gin me the first pop It
at him. whispered one of the despcra.
docs.
No one could say what the trouble was
when wlry little chap, about five feet six
l,,s,. ol,
lace and thin lips, appeared at the left
hand door with cooked revolver in either
hand, and said:
Gents, Pm sorry to disturb you, but I've
got to make raise this morning. Please
leave your shooters and climb down here,
one at time"
1t was sudden. 1t was SO sudden that
IL took ten seconds TO understand the drift
OF his remarks. Then every eye turned to
INC right hand door, and the two rcvolvcrs
hcld ny second robber were seen at the
open window 1t was Il trap The rats
were caught, and would they tight2
'Gcnts, I'm growing lcetlc impatient"
continued the first robbcr, "and | want to
sec the procession begin to move"
Let's sec. The captain was to lead us,
ana we were to be cool aud fire to kill. But
The captain was growing white around the
mouth, and nobody had weapon in hand.
| The rats were not gong to fight. One of
The miners opened the door and descended
and the other six humbly followed. The
seven were drawn up III line across the
road, and while the robbcr held his shooter
on tbe line he coolly observed to his part
! ncr
Now, William, you remove tho wcap-
! ons from the coach, and then search these
gentlemen.
AS William obcycd, every victim was
ordered to ho.d his hanls above his head.
and whatever plumber was taken from his
pockets was dropped into Williams hat.
-Four gold watches, two diamond pins, a
telescope, diamond rms, gold badge,
ana 81 ,2oo in cash changed hands in ten
minutes. Not man had Il word to say.
The driver OF the couch did not leave his
seat, ana was not intcrfcrcd with. When
the last man had been plundcrcd the gen
tell Dick Turpin kindly observed;
"I OH are the most decent set of men
ever robbed, and if times weren't 80 blasted
hard, Ia 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 re-
sumcd it's journey. Not weapon or a
time piece Or n dollar had been saved
Seven wcll-armcd men had been clcaucd
OUT ny Two, and not a shot fired or a wound
given. Each man took his seat without Il
word. Mile after mile was passed III si-
lence, and finally the seventh man-lhe
one who might fight Oh pinch, but didn t
-plainlivcy suggested
| Cant some ol you gentlemen think Of
lew remarks which would be apropos to
The Occaslon7"
No one could, and the silence was re-
| ncwcd.