Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-26

Death Of BrAvs Emsisss Of Wells. Fasss
4 Co. IN Cniifsrnia-

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u<ssa or 4 Bssve Emsisys Of Wells. Fasse
= Co. IN Cnilfsrnia-
ysan Francisco AitA1
Eugene Blair, native OF Augusta, Me-,
died In Auburn, CAL, June 21tp, oil con-
sumption; aged thirty-scven years anu
eight months. Mr.. Blair was Tor many
wears IN the service OF Wells, Fargo
4 Co. s "shotgun messenger" on
stage routes, and was well known
throughout Nevada, Utah, and Montana.
He was held In the highest esteem BY
the officers OF the express company Tor his
fidelity and bravery, which were often pun
In severe tests. For year past he has been
n, with the CONSUMPTION, the disease which
finally carried him of, and during that
time the express company aud It's employees
were unrcmitting In their care oil ana atten-
ton 10 him. The following account OF two
encounters be had with highwfymen VIII
be interesting 10 the reader and express
fraternity generally:
About o O'Clock p. NJ. February ~,
1877, the stage from Hamilton to Ward, IN
White Pine county, New, had reached q
poipt about two miles out from Ward,
when. without warning or order to stop,
two parties began 10 fire their guns into
and nd the siege. The messenger, Eugene
Rlair. who was on the seat with the driver,
and always fixed for company" returned
The FIRE of tue party on the left with a
wells-Fargo" shotgun, loaded with large
| buckshot, SCATTERING the robbers right
arm pear the shoulder and sending two
buckshot into his right side between the
ioufth and sixth ribs. Blair then jumped
from the seat 10 the ground, when two
shots were fired at him by the other rob
Der. Blair returned the fire. when the
robber broke and ran, Blair following and
shooting at the retreating form uItil he
was out OF sight. Returning to the stage,
Blair heard the wounded robber cai!ing
that he would give himself up. and that he
was in a dying condition. Blair assisted
him INTO the stage and took him into
Ward, where, on the next day, after hay
ing his arm amputated, he died. The coro-
ner's Jury found that his name was John
Carlo. native OF Ohio, aged twenty-three
wears. and iha. the shooting by Blair was
jusfifabIe, as IL was done 10 the defence OF
property entrusted to bis care, and swhile
Carlo was Engaged In the unlawful act OF
highway robbery. Immediately after the
inquest Blair started IN pursuit OF the other
robber, james Crawford. and soon struck
his trail. which he followed for ten days,
capturing the man in Southern Nevada.
Blair brought him back TO White Pine.
where he pleaded guilty and was sent to
the Nevada State prison for term OF years.
This robber died in prison January Is,
1881.
On the 4th OF September, 1877, there was
q large shipment Of money TO be sent by
Wells. Fargo & Co. from Eureka. New, TO
Ty1o, to pay off the miners at the latter
place. Eugene Blair and Jimmy Brown
were the "shot-gun messenger" who were
10 guard the treasure through to deStlna-
ton. II was generally known in the re-
gion that about the first OF each month such
shipments were made. and that the stage
which carried the messengers would be GER
tain TO have also he treasure on board. y.
j. Davis alias " Bic Jack Davis" (whO had
recently been discharged from the Nevada
state prison at the expiration OF u term
for robbing the express on the Central Pa
cifc train near Verdi. November 6. 1870,
he being the leader Of the band). Thomas
LAURA IAN eX-convict), Bob Hamilton ian
ex-conylct). and his brother. had agreed
upon a plan TO take in the stage ai Willows
STAGE station whenever they had reason 10
believe il was carrying the Typo monsy.
The stages left Eureka lateln the afternoon
and were due at the Willows station about
8 o clock in the evening. Jack Davis. Bob
Hamilton. and brother were TO be near the
Willows station. and LAURA was TO remain
in Eureka until stage with messenger
aboard should leave, when he was to
20 TO the summit OF high mountain
about ten miles from Eureka and at
fixed place build as many fires a.
there were messengers on the stage,
40 that the fires could be distinctly seen
from the station. AS soon as the stage
with the two messengers on board lett
-eka on the afternoon Of the 4th Of Sep
Eu., II. LAURA mounted horse and
tember' TO-. % designated, built two
rode to the pIsI. ~ and returned
bright nfes rs per az. eeliIvu no.
to Eureka witho,... his absence benz,
ticed, AS soon as darkness came on, 80 titt
his coniederates could see the fires. they
rode up TO the station, and dwelling their
gus at The hostler and rancher who hap
pence 10 be at the stable at the time, de-
handed a surrender, which was imme'
diately complied with. The two men were
bound and gagged and laid away ipa stall
IN the back part Of the barn, bSng 81,
mo- .,ished, at their peril, TO give M ala'h
when the stage approached. In ateut an
boyr the stage ratified up TO and sterttd III
front OF the open barn-doors- g usuai.
Rlajr was on the end OF the seat next tne
barn. with the driver, and Brcwn on tue
dickev.seat Just behind them. AS the
stage came TO q stop voice yelled out lI0ui
the darkness Inear the stable.door EI-
rene Blair. surrender" Blair took II Tor
Joke. and did not move until the second
command to "Get down OIL OF tEere ahd
surrender" Blair Immediately Jumped
from the stage, with his short Wells-targo
shotgun In his right hand,and started LOT
the party. who, though not IN siShI,
had been hailing him, when two SHOTS were
fred at him-one from the side ana one
from the front. Jack Davis then rushed
upon Blair, and placed the muzzle OF his
doublc-barrelled shotgun against Blalr's
b,east: the latter seized the gun with MS
leit hand and threw 1t up. Blair then
clinched Davis. and in the scufile swung
him around so that the bright staSe-lIght
struck squarely on Davis 5 back. when
Jimmy Brown from his seat sent charge
OF nine buckshot into Dayis's back, between
The hips. Davis exclaimed, -" am shot; |
surrender and fellto the ground. Brown
started to gel down and received a shot in
iheleg which shattered the bone. Bob Ham
ilton and his brother then 0ed .nto the
darkness, Blair following and firing. at them
as thew ran, The two men in the barn
were then liberated, and DAVIS was taken
in aud cared for until morning. when the
stage turned back TO Eureka, carrying Da-
Wis, who died on the way. Bob Hamilton
was caught, convicted, and sent to the Ne
vada State prison for term OF fourteen
wears. Bob's brother was caught and tried,
but the jury disagreed. and the indictment
was dismissed. LAURA was caught, con-
victed, and sent 10 the State prison for q
term Of fourteen years, and was pardonel
by Governor Kncaid June 30, 1882.
SWISS WATCHES.