The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-07-04
THE DAYS OF 'ss.
The First Coach Robbed Between Vlr.
gfnfa and Bannack-ssBummeP
Dan" and Other Passen.
gers Held Up.
From Helena Independent.

gers Held Up.
From Helena INDEPENDENT.
The stage robbery Wednesday between
Helena and Boulder City has, as matter
of course, renewed the talk about early
day road agents. A reporter who yester-
day met VIM. A. Rumsay, resident of
this city but at one time of Alder gulch
g,llch, obtained from him some interest
ing "reminiscences, the most interesting
of which is an account of the first stage
robbery on the line between Virginia
City and Bannack. The heaviest loser
among the robbed passengers was Dan
McFadden (familiarly known as "Bum-
mer DAMP who, like all prominent
earlyday characters, had seen many ups
and downs. He was one Of the most
familiar characters of Alder gulch in the
golden days Of '63. He had accumulated
and lost several small fortunes with the
Indifference which characterized the
majority of the early prospectors, who
regarded small "raisesy as only 'pros-
pects" leading to the main deposit which
they must eventually strike. Dan was
happy when the claims were rich and
the whisky plenty. Somehow he was
always in the vanguard of stampede,
and had followed the old excitements
hither and thither through the noun
tains to Bannack, and then drifted along
in the wake of Bill Fairweather and
party to Alder. In Virginia City Dams
fortunes had settled down to their lowest
ebb. And at last, even the easy going,
good natured pioneer awoke to the me-
cessity of making another attempt to re-
plenish the purse that had been filled
and emptied so often.
One morning the lwellers in the gulch
were electrified by the news that "Bum-
mer Dan" had struck it rich again. Sure
enough he had, for "Bummer Dams Bar"
almost opposite Virginis City, proved to
be one of the richest in Alder. Dan
,steadied down, worked hard. sluiccd out
a golden harvest from bed rock, sold out
his claim, and started for Salt Lake and
the States to enjoy quiet life.
This was in October, 1863. The driver
of the coach on which hummer Dan took
passage was Mr.. Rumsey, mentioned
above, who had consented to drive one
trip to Bannack to relieve Mr.. Caldwell
tone Of the owners Of the line) who had
been driving steadily for several trips
drivers being scarce), and was played
out. Three passengers were in the coach
as it pulled out from Virginia, and at
Bob Dempsey's ranch, "Bummer Dan"
got on board. He had several sacks Of
gold dust (his whole "pile") strapped to
his body, underneath his clothes. The
coach went along at a rattling pace over
the wide-swept table land to Rattlesnake
creek. Arriving at Rattlesnake ranch
(which became so notorious in the fol-
lowing months) they discovered that the
stock had strayed, and they were com-
pelled to remain over night. About 8
o'clock next morning one of the hertlers
brought in the same team they had
dsiyeif the day before, and Rumsey had
to mount the box and head the tired
horses for the divide and Bannack. The
horses trotted heavily along until they
reached the foot hills, when they settled
down to a walk from which no whipping
could urge them. AS they came opposite
little dry gulch two blanketted horse
men with shotguns upon their shoulders
calloped out The moment Rumsey saw
them, he called to his passengers. "Boys,
they are coming; get out your revolvers"
But the warning was too late, and was
answered by the road agents demand:
"Throw up your hands," With q shot
gun Ievelcd upon him Rumsey pulled up
the horses and was ordered down from
the box. lie refused to leave his team.
The road agent again ordered him down
and told Bill Bnntnn to mount the box
and hold the team. Bill kept crying out
that he had no arms, and continually
begged the road agents not to shoot him.
Rumsey was ordered to disarm the pass
enscr. and search them. He took the
arms from the passengers and piled them
up. "Bu,nmer Dan" had navy strap
ped on each side. After taking the arms
Runscy went to the passengers and re-
cciyed their purses. Dan handed him
two small purses. Rumsey piled them
up and started for the coach. "Did you
get all?" asked an agent. ayes" replied
Rumscy, who had left purses in several
of the passengers pockets. One of the
passengers was asked if he had any more
money. With his hands still above his
head he answered "Yes," Rumsey was
ordered to search him again. After
throwing another purse down, Rumsey
started for the coach, saying he had got
all the money. "Get that big sack from
hummer Dan, unbuckle the straps; he
is the man we want to pan out" Dams
face heightened, and he began to un-
buckle the straps He had hoped to es-
cane Will, the bulk of his gold dust.
Rumsey went to help him, but seeing
that Dan had another sack still hidden,
he stepped back, and turning to the road
agents, told them that Dan could get
along faster alone Dan finally got the
sacks loose and handed them to Rumsey,
who tossed them upon the pile. The
passengers were ordered aboard, with
the threat THAT if they breathed word
about the robbery, they would he killed.
Dan saved one sack Of dust and lost
about 81 900, and remarked that ne had
less fun with the money he had just
parted with, than any raise that has slip
ped through his fingers since he had
been in the mountains. George Ivesand
Frank. Parish were the road agents and
were afterwards hung. When the coach
arrived at Bannack, Henry Plummer, the
chief of the band, remarked to Dan, in
inc,llar manner: "Never mind, Dan,
when get my division, l will give you
your money back" Dan looked at him,
and, although he was aware Of who the
| men were, and Plummer's connection