The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-04-05
I'll RIVER PRESS.

he could never tell-groped his way between
the galloping horses, recovered the reins, re-
mounted the drivers seat and drove into
Deadwood without once having stopped the
team. Pen minutes later hundreds Of we'll
mounted and we'll armed men were on their
way up the gulch. They found the corpse
of the unfortunate driver lying where it fell
by the roadside, and that was all. None
other of the passengers were injured, With
the exception Of Ilor who was slightly
scratched. The following year brought q
long series of stage robberies, conducted in
the most daring manner, and eliminating in
what is known as the Canyon Springs rob-
berry. 1t was September, | think. TIL
treasure coach left Deadwood at : o'clock in
the morning with Eugene Barnett, a noble
fellow. driver, and messenger Gale Hill on
the boot. Scott Davis and two or three other
messengers whose names | can not now re-
call, and a telegraph operator named Camp
bell occupied the inside Of the coach. TIL
treasure-a very light load worth $50, 600
was contained in an iron safe on the inside
of the coach. The stage reached Canyon
| Springs, tbirty-fve miles distant, at 10 a. m.,
and, as usual, dashed up to within twenty
feet of the stable door and halted to change
horses. Hill, gun 10 hand, alighted to block
the wheels, and at the same instant, a COM
mand issued from the stable to 'hold up
your hands," CHANGING around Hill saw NO
less than six riae barrels protruding between
the logs of the building and through the
partly open doorway, and without further
ado he opened fire, which brought
voLLEY IN RETURN
| and the battle began. Hill went down at the
first fire, which sent a bullet through his
body, and. although he had no recollections
of his doings, he crawled around the building
to a rear window, through which be sent
many a deadly messenger, until exhausted
| with loss of blood he sank unconscious. In
the meantime the battle in front continued
with great determination on the part of the
robbers, who sent volley after volley against
the iron sides of the coach, which was we'll
returned by Scott Davis and one companion,
but another messenger, Smith by name, was
so overcome by coWardice that he crouched
in the bottom of the vehicle and refused to
make even a show Of resistance. Poor
Campbell received a fatal shot early in the
fight. Realizing that odds were against them
Scott Davis escaped by the coach door oppo-
site from the stable and ran to q tree, from
which position he made it decidedly warm
for the freebooters. In the meantime, Eu-
gene, the driver, covered by a rifle, was
held in his seat. Campbell, in the agonies
Of death, clambered or fell out of the coach,
p%iteously appealing for mercy, and as he
lay upon the ground he implored Eugene to
bring him some water, but THIS the robbers
forbade, and
WITH GUNS
compelled Barnett to descend from his seat
and with him as a cover they advanced upon
Davis, who. unable to shoot without wound
ing his friend, was forced to retreat. Thus
the coach was captured. Upon returning to
the stable Campbell was found dead, Hill
missing, and Smith found lying prone in the
coach, which latter. by directions of the rob-
bers, was driven four miles off the road,
where Barnetc and Smith were tied to a
wheel, and the robbers proceeded to break
open the safe, using a sledge brought for the
purpose, This was no difficult task. Then
the booty was placed in sacks thrown on
ponies and with it the robbers disappeared.
Upon retreating Davis made quick time to
the nearest station and dispatched a messen-
ger to Deadwood, and by three o'clock at
least fifty men were in pursuit. The chase
that followed continued many days, and a
recovery Of a portion of the treasure would
make a very interesting narrative, but alto
ge,her too lengthy for present production. l
should add, however, that although shot
through the body, brave Gale Hill, thanks to
skillful treatment, is still alive, and a respect
ed citizen and official of Deadwood. Smith
has not been heard from but once since.
He was then filling the less Warlike position
of brakeman on the Union Pacific rail
road. Y. V. v.
n Asr~> IS - nrnn Sra NSn