Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-07-24
ROBBED IN MEXICO.

Prof c. A. Stetefeldt, the well.known
| mining engineer and metallurgist, has just
| returned to New York from an eventful trip
in Mexico. While on journey to the Las
Minas gold mines, in the State OF Vera
| Cruz, the coach in which he and several
others were riding was attacked by masked
robbers, who took everything of value they
could find on the persons of the passengers,
and would have shot both Prof. Stetefeldt
and his companion had it not been for the
presence OF mind of the former Prof. Stete'
feldt was seen by New York reporter,
and asked for particulars of the adventure.
at was mar row escape for Us" he said,
| s'for the robbers were desperate men, and,
as a rule, down. there when robbery OF
| this kind is committed 1T means murder as
| well I went TO Mexico to inspect the
| gold ores of the Las Minas mines. They
are about ffty-fve miles from a rail
about five hours ride on the cars from
the CITY of Mexico. From Carmen we were
to ride by stage to Perote. We left
Carmen at noon in a big, heavy, old-iashion-
ed stage-coach, large enough to accommo'
date nine passengers. Four horses drew it,
in charge of one driver Inside the stage
there were the owner of the stage, who lives
in Perote guard or extra driver who was
in his employ, and two passengers, Mr..
Harry Quinby, young man from st. Louis,
the son of the superintendent Of the mines,
and myself At about dusk, when on q
plain orpateau in the open country, we
were suddenly met by three masked men on
horseback, who came from the direction of
cI to1 to ba tn ~
which he did promptly, and the next in
stant, before we could recover from our as
| tonishment, one of the robbers was by the
side of the stage and was holding a revolver
against nv breast. 1t had been raining,
| and all the canvas curtains of the stage
were down with the exception OF the one at
| the front seat which / occupied. The rob.
Der said something in threatening tone
| which did not understand. 1t is probably
| fortunate that | was not armed, for If we
had shown the slightest signs of resistance,
| I have no doubt that we would have been
murdered OH the spot.
INSTANTLY, almost, upon the appearance
of the robber, Mr.. Quinby drew his revolver
and would have fired, but said No; it
won't do; the odds are too great knew
from what had heard Of these fellows that
| the chances were all against Us if a shot was
| that the guard who was inside with us, but
| whose place was outside, although armed
with two revolvers and Winchester rifle,
made no sign to defend us or the stage. The
owner showed an equal disregard for our
| lives. Six shots were fired by the two 9TH
! er robbers, but not at Us, imagine, for on
lv Que struck the stage. | think they fired
them to frighten Us more than anything
else. Then they made us get out and lie
down fat upon the ground while they
searched our persons. After going through
all our pockets they seemed dissatisfied and
held a consultation, after which they repeat
ed their operation The first robber who
held me down did not take anything. The
second one took what small change had
and considerably returned to me my safe
KEY, but refused to give me gold ring
which priced very highly. had 81 $50 in
L. S. currency notes in an inside pocket OF
my vest which neither of the robbers found.
This seemed to me so ridiculous that when
the second searcher had finished | laughed
in his face. He thereupon hit me blow
on the back, and said in Spanish, Shut up
BY this time it was dark. They made us 20
back into the stage and then proceeded to
contents all over the roadway. Mr.. Quinby
i
which they took, together with his revolver.
They also took the arm which the guard
had aud number of articles of clothing of
mine including an overcoat, and also took
my watch. Another singular feature of the
case was that although the owner of the stage
had two watches with him they did not
take them. In fact, the actions of this man
throughout the whole performance were
such as to impress US with the idea that he
connived in the robbery. Then the high
waymen rode away, telling us as O parting
iarwell that we were lucky to get of with
our lives.
1--WE reached Perote, which was fifteen
miles from the spot late that night, and
complained to the authorities. But nothing
was done in the case. 1t was in fact plain
TO us that the robbers were residents Of
Perote. kilograms of my coming had been
made public, and it was supposed that |
carried large sums of money with which to
purchase the mines. On the return, which
I made alone, the authorities promised to
protect me wifi a guard of men, but not q
sign of such thing was to be seen when
the stage took its departure, but the jour-
ney was made without incident. Only a
short time before that Mr.. Paulholder. OF
Hoboken, and his young son were Killed by
Mexicaus while travelling to some other
mines in the State of Nueva Leon. While
in Mexico met an old chum, who has been
there forty years. He is the superinten'
, dent of a mine. He told me, and it is con.
firmed, that he had killed with his oWr
hand seventeen robbers at different Tunes
and had captured five alive, who had been
shot by the government. He told me that
even rich owners of farms had been impli
Gated in the robberies there"
Prof Stetefeldt is well-known in this city
having married an Alexandria lady-Misi
Adelaide Richards