The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-03-25
AprOpOs Of the Occasion.

In the heavy stage coach, as we roll out of
Leadville, are seven men. One is an army
officer who has half dozen scars to prove
his bravery. Cut off from his command, on
the plains last summer, by a score of Indians,
he intrenched himself and fought the band
off until help arrived. Two of the others are
desperadoes, who have killed their men.-
Three of the Others are stalwart miners, each
armed with two revolvers, and they look as
ifthey would prove ugly customers in row.
The seventh man might do some shooting
on pinch, but he hopes there will no pinch.
In the crowd are ten revolvers, two derring-
crs, three repeating rifles and four or five
bowie knives, and there is perfect good feel
ing as the stage rolls along. 1t is tacitly I'M
derstood 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 win
dows are down and the passengers are smok-
ing and talking, and seeking for comfortable
positions. The coach has Just reached the
top ofa hill, when every horse is suddenly
pulled up.
| "Ifits bar we'll have some fun" growl-
ed one of the miners, as he put his head out
of the window.
"If it's a robber gin me the fust pop at
| him ~ whispered one of the desperadoes.
No one could say what the trouble was
| when Il why little chap about five feet six
| inches TALL with black eyes and hair clean
face and thin lips, appeared at the left-hand
door with cooked revolver in either hand
| and said:
Scents, I'm sorry to disturb you, but I've
got to make a raise this morning. Please
| leave your shooters and climb down here one
| at a tmeW
1t was sudden. 1t 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. 1t was trap. The rats were
caught, and would they fight?
Scents, I'm growing leetle impatient"
| continued the first robber, land l want TO
see the procession begin to movew
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 observed to his partner
Now, William, you remove the weapons
from the coach and then search these gentle
men,"
AS William obeyed every victim was or
dered to hold his hands above his head and
whatever plumber was taken from his peck
cts was dropped into Williams hat. Four
gold watches, two diamond pins, telescope,
a diamond ring gold badge and 81 200 in
cash changed hands in ten minutes. Not a
man had word to say. The driver of the
coach did not leave his seat and was not in
terfered with. When the last man had been
plundered the genteel Dick Turpin kindly
observed
"You are the most decent lot of men ever
robbed, and if times weren't so blasted hard
| would make each of you a present of $40
Now, then, climb back to your places and the
coach will go on"
The crowd "clumb," and the vehicle re-
sumed its journey. Not weapon or n time
piece or a dollar had been saved. Seven
wel-armed men had been cleaned out by two
and not a shot fired or wound given
Each man took his seat without word
Mile after mile was passed in silence, and fl
nally the seventh man, the one who might
fight on n pinch, but didn't, plaintively sug-
gested
Cant some of you gentlemen think of
few remarks which would be apropos TO the
occasion 2"
No one could, and the silence was renew
ed