The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-08-27
THE ROAD AGENTS. TERROR.
How Shotgun Messenger Blair Protected
Mall and Treasure the Overland
Stages.

Eugene Blair, the shotgun messenger
in the service of Wells, Fargo q Co., has
just died of consumption in this State. He
was not yet 40 years of age, but he was one
of the most experienced and daring mes
sengers ever in the employ of the company.
For year past he has not been ON duty,
but scarcely a week has elapsed since he was
taken sick that he has not been the recipient
of some token of the company's or his old
associates friendship.
Blair's life was full of adventure and ex-
element, and IL Is probable that the strain
npon him hastened the disease which termi-
mated in his death. His duties called him
rapidly from one point to another, oil the
way from California to Nebraska. One des-
perate job was no sooner accomplished than
another was presented. He lived in an at
mosphere of danger for years, and more
truly than any soldier was continually un-
der fire. That he was spared to die
quietly in bed is the marvel of all who knew
him.
"a shotgun messenger" is a trusted en-
ployee of the express company, who is sent
to accompany a stage bearing big treasure
boxes, or heavy remittances Of currency. In
the Territories it is oil but impossible for
the stage officials to prevent public infor-
nation as to the approximate value of treas
ure and mail shipments. A large sum of
money, or well-flled treasure box is
reasonably certain to tempt somebody. For
every such load it is reasoned that there will
be robber, and while it frequently turns
out that there is none, the company is more
than satisfied that it pays to be ON the safe
side. Blair was nominally stationed here,
but he was away most of the time, receiving
bis orders by telegraph, and always being
ready to move. Whenever any unusually
hazardous enterprise was on foot he was
invariably called on, for ii was known that
his pluck and loyalty could be depended
upon.
"You can't find all the virtues in stage
coach driver" said an employee of tho
company here "some of them are game
and some are not, but they all fight good
deal better under the eye and example of a
man like Blair than they ever would alone.
The average driver is tempted when held
up to make peace ct any price. Blair never
surrendered, and the result was that robbers
who happened to run across him soon left
the earth for good, or went limping away to
hospital and prison. He was q hair-trig.
ger sort of fellow. The word Haiti or 8
yolley from an ambush had no terrors fol
him. His gun was discharged instantly.
The road agents feared him as they did the
devil, and we used to let 1t be known fire.
guently in dangerous districts that the shot
gun messenger was to accompany such and
such stage. They have made many efforts
to kill him, but he never was badly hurt.
He invariably rode outside with the driver,
and carried short double barrelled shot.
gun, loaded heavily with buckshot. Besides
this weapon, which experience proved was
very formidable, he wore in his belt two
large revolvers. He depended upon his
shotgun, however, In almost every emer-
gency. If the robbers were numerous and
he could locate them hs would give them
both barrels at once, which was usually
about all they wanted. The gan Was n reg
ular cannon, made expressly for him by the
company, and verify believe that it would
kill dozen men 1t once II they were not
too far apart. II scattered like bomb-shell
too. The gun and the man made good
team, and every highwayman between the
Missouri and the Rockies was afraid Of
them"