Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-04-07

Apyropos Of the Occasion.

In the heavy 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 of from his
command, on The plains last Summer,
by score of indians, he intrenched
himself and fought the band until help
arrived. Two OF the others are des-
peradoes, who have killed their men.
Three Of the others are stalwart miners,
each armed with two reyolyers, and
they look as # they would prove ugly
customers 10 a row.
The seventh man might do some
shooting on pinch, but be hopes there
will be no pinch. In the crowd are ten
.revoiyefs, two dtriiogers, two repeat
ing rifles and four or five bowie knives,
and there is perfect good feeling as the
stage rolls along. II IS tacitly under
stood 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 positions. The coach
has just reached the top of the hill,
when every horse is suddenly pulled
up.
"If it's bar wen have some fun"
growled one OF the miners, as he put
his head out OF the window.
eff It's a robber, gin me the fust pop
at him n whispered one Of The desper-
ADDE'S.
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, appeared
at the left-hand door with a cooked re-
yolver IN each hand, and said:
Gents I'm sorry to disturb you, bu {
I've got 10 make a raise this morning.
Please leave your shooters and climb
down here, one at time 81
II was sudden. Ii was so sudden
that it took ten seconds to understand
the dnlt Of his remarks. Then every
eye turned to the right hand door and
the two revolycrs held by secoa rob
Der were seen at the open windosw II
was trap. The rats were caught, and
would they fight;
Gents, growing leetle impatient,
continued the first robbcr, and I want
TO see The procession begin to moyAf"
Let's see The captain was TO lead
Us, aud we were to be cool aud fire To-,
kill. But the captain was growing
white around the mouth aud nobody
bad q weapon 10 hand. The rats were
not going 10 fight. One Of the miners
opeued the door and descended, and
the other six humbIy followed. The
seven were drawn up m line across the
road and while the fohber held his
shooter ON the line, he cooily observed
to bis partner:
Now, William, you remove the
weapons from the coach and then search
these gentlemen"
As William obeyed every victim was
ordered to hold his hands above his head,
and whatever plumber vas taken from
his pockets was dropped into Williams
hat Four gold watches, two diamond
! pins, a telescope, a diamond ring, gold
badge and ST. 900 in cash changed hands
in ten minutes. Not a man bad a word
10 say. The driver Of the coach did not
leave bis seat aud was not interfered
with. When the last man had been
plundered the genteel Dick Turpin kind
| ~ observed:
You ore the most decent lot of men
ever robbed and if times weren't so
blasted hard would make each of you
a present OF SO. Now. then, climb
back to your places aud the coach will
60 on.
The crowd "cIumb, and the vehicle
resumed its journey. Not a weapon or
a time-piece or a dollar had been saved.
Seven wclI-armed men had been cleaned
out by two and not shot fred or
wonud gwen. Each man'took his seat
without word Mile after mile was
passed 10 silence, and finally the sew
enth man, the one who might fight on
pinch, but didn't, plaintlvely sug-
gestcd
Cant some Of you gentlemen think
Of few remarks which would be apro-
pos to the occasion -
No one could, and the silence was
ranauroI