The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-03-10
A Trap for Seven.

Catch rat in trap and he will hight.
Trap man, and-well, you cau'trely on
him. 1t is according to tho trap. In the
heavy stage coach, as We roll out of Lead
vile, are seven men.
One is an army officer who has half a
dozen scan to prove his bravery. Gut
off from his command on the plains
last Summer by score of Indians be en-
trenched himself and fought the band Oft
until help arrived. Two Of the others are
desperadoes, who have killed their men.
Three of the Others are staluart miners,
each armed with two revolvers, and they
would prove ugly customers in row.
The seventh man might do some shoot.
ing on pinch, but he hopes there will
be no pinch. In the crowd are ten re-.
volgers, two derringers, three repeating
rifles and four or FIVE bowie knives, aud
there is perfect: good feeling as the stage
rolls along. It is tacitly understood that
the 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 position. The coach has
just reached the top of the hill, when
every horse is suddenly pulled up.
"If it's bar, we'll have some fun"
growled one Of the miners, as he put his
head out of the window.
"Ifit's robber gin me the fust pop at
him |" whispered one of tue desperadoes.
No one could say what the etroubie was,
when wiry little chap about FIVE feet
six inches tall, with black eyes and hair.
clean face and thin lips, appeared at the
left hand and said:
"Geuts, I'm sorry 10 disturb you, but
I're got to make q raise this morning.
Please leave your shooters and climb
down here, one at a time !"
It was sudden. It vas 80 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 re-
yolvers held by second robber were seen
at the open window. Itwas trap. The
rats were caught, and would they fight? :?
"Gents. Pm growing a leetle inpatient"
continued the first robber, '.and want
to see the procession begin to novel"
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 weapon in
hand. The rats were not going to fight.
One of the miners opened 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 OBJ.
served to his partner:
"Now, William, you remove the weap.
ons from the coach and then search these
gentlemen"
AS William obeyed, every victim Was
ordered TO hold his hands above his head,
and whatever p.uader was taken from
his pockets was dropped Into Williams
hat. Four gold watches, two diamond
pins, telescope, a diamond ring,a gold
badge and 81. 200 in cash changed hands
in ten minutes. Not q man had word
to say. The driver of The coach did not
leave his seat and was not lnterfered
with. When the last man had been
plundered, the genteel Dick Turpin
observed:
"You are the most decent set of men I
ever robbed, and if times weren'tso blast
ed hard, I would make each of you a
present of $40. Now, then, climb back
TO your places and the coach will 60 on"
The crowd "clumb," aud the vehicle
resumed its journey. Not weapon or
timepiece or dollar had been saved.
Seven well-armed men had been cleaned
out by two and not shot fred or q
wound given. Each man took his seat
without q word. Mile after mile WAS
passed in silence, and finally the seventh
man, the one who might fight on a pinch
but didn't, plsintiyely suggested:
"Can't some of you gentlemen think of
few remarks which would be apropos to
the occasion?"
No one could, and the silence was re-
newed.- Detroit Free Press.