Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-09-08


we would pass the stage before reaching
New Braunfels, and as was sure my
German friend was an honest fellow /
made confident of him and told him of
my dilemma. ] had in my possession
some very valuable jewelry, and there were
two men in the stage ahead who had
planned to rob me. He naturally asked how
that could be done, when there were over a
dozen passengers besides, who were
doubtless armed, while was able to do
something in my own defense.
Il see, he answered; they have an I'M
Outstanding with the James boys, who
will stop the stage somewhere along the
road"
The dickensl" I exclaimed, ARE the
James bows In Texasp"
saw them ride through New Braunfels
last week and we shall meet them some
where along the road"
This was rather Disgusting information,
but l could only make the best OF il. l
drew from my valise an old coat and dana
aged hat which donned. In the hat was
some frowsy yellow hair which gagged"
about my forehead and ears, 80 that nv
German friend broke out laughing at my
changed appearance.
"Now," said I, "let me hold the reins
and you can keep the team going. If am
diving less attention viii be attracted t.
me-"
The accommodating fellow complied at
once and striking the spirited horses a
sharp blow we ratified off over the country
at lively gait. l was considerably dis
turbed for l could feel no assurance that
the not over brilliant strategem of mine
had thrown my dreaded acquaintance off
the scent. At the first stopping place,
where the conveyance changed horses, we
were less than an hour behind. so we ex-
pected to gain sight Of it within q short
time.
And sure enough we did Only few
miles away we saw the stage standing still
on the top of hill, as if the driver was
giving his horses rest after the heavy pull.
There were eighteen passengers, as we
learned so that the four animals had an
unusually heavy load. So we pushed
steadily up the long incline until within a
hundred feet of the motionless stage, when
my German friend exclaimed:
Great thunderl That's Jesse James!"
There was one medium sized man sitting
on small Texan pony, with his Winches-
ter rifle cooked ana pointed toward the
stage. On the other side was another rob-
Der, standing close to the vehicle with
cooked revolver in each hand, while third
was experimenting the spoliation of the
passengers, who were passing over watches,
purses and valuables with the alacrity al
ways displayed on such OCCASIONS.
l was so startled that drew out to hurry
by when Jesse James called to me with
frl9htful oath to stop where was and wait
till the picnic was over. It is needless to
say complied and was an absorbed spec
tator of the robbery. The passengers ioked
and laughed and tried to hide their possess
ions in all sorts of places. The James
boys INDUCED in few coarse oaths, but Of
fered no violence and were not very exact
ing in their demands. They took the gold
watches, diamond rings and such money as
was passed out to them, but no passenger
was entirely cleaned out"
When they were through it was plain to
me they were disappointed, and they GAL
Hoped away, firing their pistols over their
heads, quickly vanishing in the mezquit
bush. We passed the stage and arrived at
New Braunfels an hour ahead. There I
donned my usual clothing, compelled my
German friend to accept a gratuity and
waited for the stage.
It was rare enjoyment to me when the
latter drove up and entered to study the
expression of the two men who had Swallowed
me all the way from st. Louis and had
doubtless arranged the robbery for the pur-
pose of making sure of the diamonds 1
carried with me. They never heard, and
unless they come across this sketch, they
will never know how it was that the man
who carried this concentrated wealth and |
whom they left i'll in Austin on the 10th of |
May, 1876, stood on the porch of New
Braunfels, on the afternoon of the same
day, when the stage drove up and journeyed
with them to San Antonio, where the prop
erty was safely placed in the hands Of the |
owner and by him prese, ted to his daughter |
that same evening.