The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-08-03
KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD.
THE HELENA AND DEER LODGE COACH
AGAIN ROBBED.
A Highly Artistic Piece of Work. Bat Not
Much Loot Captured.

: just rs the hundreds OF spectators CAM
down from College heights Sunday after
noon, the Helena coach drove in, and TIM
!. report spread instantly that il had been rob
bed sixteen miles from town, the stage once
became the center of attraction. As the
passengers scattered out, everywhere were
groups of people requiring reiteration OF thu
! inquiry: "How did it all happen?" and here
| and there, rushing about, were Ross, ano
Riddle, and McTague, with their assistants
and comrades procuring horses and outfit fol
the pursuit and dashing out at will on the
Helena road
We have made inquiry into the facts, and
rs 1t was an exceedingly well performed
piece of work give it somewhat extended
notice. George Davie drove out from Helena
on Sunday with one of Gilmer, Salisbury &
Co.'S coaches on which were twelve passen
pers, among whom were &. NJ. Pennoyer
representing John V. Farwell & Co., Chi
cage; Henry Sizer, of Kansas City, return.
ing home; L. g. Bailey, of Bailey, Kennett
& Co, stockmen; C. o. Robbins, South
Carolinian now resident in Texas, en- route
home and taking n ride on the first stage
coach he had ever seen; Mrs. Lambert isis
ter of Mrs. Frank Woody, Missoula,l and
child; Mrs. j. X. Bradley and child, travelling
| toward Missoula; l.. Farrell, of Maine, and
| Newton Morgan, an old stock tender for
| g., S. & Co. Mrs. Lambert and child were
on the box with the driver. The passengers
had had nice ride from Helena; had talked
over the recent stage robberies; regretted
their inability to be present at the Olympic
| game In Deer Lodge; hoped that John Rob
insons great Moral Circus would be a red
hot success in Montana; had satisfied their
hungerings with one of Keene's comfortable
dinners and were doing along at l:l5 p. m.
as all well fed passengers do, as the six hor-
SEES tolled leIsurely up the long hill this side
| Jones just as the last turn to the right
| was made ~ the road energies from the tina
Der, large gentleman with an enormous
gun arose from 4 clump of brush from the
left and ordered the driver to "hold up, sir"
Two more men with guns Immediately came
in view at distance of about twenty feet
and about ten feet apart, one with n double
barrelled shot gun standing out, and the
other with a Winchester rifle, partially con-
cealed behind a fallen tree. All the guns
were at full cock and bright eye visible at
the butt end Of each. Davie deemed it ad-
visable to do rs demanded. The coach stop
ped, the leader ordered the rifeman to cover
the driver, then putting aside his gun he
stepped up to the coach door with brace of
cooked revolvers, and with affable demeau-
or and in the most quiet and deliberate MAN.
ner imaginable told the male passengers to
get out and form line about ten feet from
he Wi fhair han d. md fan ha
man with the shot gun who kept them cover
ed like covey of quail. The passengers
were all awake by this time. The ladies and
children were politely informed that they
could remain seated; the men tumbled ont
with alacrity. Davie was also ordered down
but as he said the team would perhaps run
away if he got down, and the ladies crying,
the leader said with a Chesterfieldian air:
"All right; keep your seat sir, and keep your
hands up" The leader then entered the
coach and searched for valuables, but was
not very well rewarded. He took one hand
bag and was about TO take another, when
Mrs. Bradley's little girl objected, saying,
That's mine" "All right, little MISS you
shall have it, if there's thousand do liars in
it," and back he handed it without opening.
Going thence to the head of the line he began
n deliberate and systematic search. From
one man he got S75, and from others lesser
amounts aggreGating probably about 500.
From c. o. Robbins he took S2.o5 in silver,
but put it back in Robbins pocket. Robbins
says he does not recollect asking fer it, but
probably did. He also took two watches and
after examining them quickly passed them
back, saying as they were not of any value
the owners could have them. From another
he took a gold ring, but on being told it
was family keepsake returned it. Thus he
passed along the line, cooked revolver in
his left hand and bis right eXpertly running
through pockets while he kept up humor-
Gus chat with his awkward and embarrassed
squad Not Il ough word was said and the
passengers say he was the coolest chap they
ever saw. Only once did his temper ruifie
In re turning Robbins silver watch, he Slip
ped it in his coat pocket. Robbins recollect-
ing there was a hole in the pocket thought
lessly dropped his right hand to get it, when
quick rs thought the robber Strengthened up
and evidently seeing Robbins had made
toWr pas softly sand: eff you keep your hands
up gentlemen, there will be no shooting"
The hands were kept up During the pro-
gress of this search the man with the shot
gun, evidently the green one of the party
and very nervous, said, Hurry up, Mike"
but Mike took his time, meanwhile banter
ing his victims on their poverty and the in
adequate reward he was getting for hard
work. The search did not satisfy him. He
SAID, "There ought to be more money in the
party" He returned to the stage and again
searched it. This time he took n gun and
overcoat, and also found Mr.. Pennoyers
watch chain worth perhaps $50. He also took
Pennoyer's handbag and the latter telling
him that there was nothing in it he wanted
except flask of whisky and a box of cigars,
mike" permitted him 10 take the articles
out for him and returned the rest of the con-
tents and bag. But while engaged in the
problem of division and silence" Nike OBJ
served that PennoyeE had on kid gloves and
asked that they be removed. In doing so a
little band of gold was exposed on the back
of Pennoyer's finger. He attempted the
family relic ruse but, Mike required him to
turn the set and as hne diamond flashed in
view he said, why, that's regular sinner
"A daisy-Ill trouble you for that" and he |
took 1t. He then gave Mr.. Pennoyer adrink |
from his own flask and passed the cigars |
with n cordial invitation to all the male pas |
sengers to "have one" which they generally |
did. |
Having thus detained them some fifteen |
minutes Davie was told to throw down the
treasure box and mail sacks, he demonstrated |
about the mail sacks but had to pass them
down; the passengers were ordered back on
the stage and the driver directed TO start. l
just as they started a pistol shot or two
was fired. The passengers thought this prob
ably signal 10 their comrade or comrades TO /
bring up the horses, but Mr. Lamson, who
the whole affair, says that as the 1
stage startee up the man with the shot gun,
who had PERCUSSION cap revolver in his
went to let down the hammer and
in his excitement fred the pistol in the scab-
bard, the ball striking.on the ground beside
him.
Just as the stage passengers were being
formed in line VIM. Lamson, formerly of
Virginia and Butte, drove into what he calls
'the Picnic" with a four horse team. carry
ng about 800 pounds of samples for Sol Poz-
nainesky and Mr. Pennoyer. 1t was ON his
that the shot gun man called out
% mike" to hurry up. Mike had taken in