Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-26
BY A HAIR BREADTH.
Mr.. j. S. Merchants Story Of the
Stage Coach Tragedy at MelrOse.

Ct1So OOdCA AIAScuy NJ Mc4TOSts
Mr.. T. s. Merchant, member of the firm
Of Macondray & Co.. San Francisco, and
of the San Jose Packing Company, arrived
last night in Butte and furnished some
additional details OF the murder of George
Ferguson, the stage.driver, night before
last, near Melrose, a brief account OF which
was published in yesterdays MINER.
Gust before we started from Melrose,"
said Mr.. Merchant, 'the driver of the
wagon requested me to sit by his side. as
he wished to chat with me. The other
occupants of the vehicle were two ladies
and q little girl who filed the seat behind
tho driver and myself, and two men who
occupied the rear seat. We had proceeded
about two miles from Melrose, and were pass
ing at moderate speed between bluff and
a creek, when a man suddenly jumped from
the willows on the side OF the road nearest
shouted 'StopY At the same instant he
raised a shotgun and fired, and
some OF the shot passed through
my hat, knocking it of. The driver, who
was q lit le more elevated than I was, re-
ceived several shot in the right cheek, and
fellforward. / grasped him in time to pre-
vent his falling to the ground, dragged him
back to the seat, and raised my head just
in time to see the robber take deliberate
aim at me with his weapon. Don't
shoot! Ishouted, but he pulled the trigger.
Fortunately for me, the gun missed fire,
and yelled to the horses. They started
in q gallOp, and one OF the men behind me
jumped forwsrd. grasped the flying reins
and drove the animals into Glendale. The
ladies' screamed, but bore up bravely until
all danger was passed. The driver died
just as soon as we reached Glendale, and
Sheriff Jones and p0sse OF mounted men
Immediately started out to scour tho
country for the assassin. This morn
ing l accompanied the Coroner and
a jury 10 the spot where the murder
was committed, and we found my hat, rid.
died with buckshot, a canvas coat, the as
sassin's shotgun and two masks. We ex-
amined the gun and found that the charge
intended for me had not been rammed
home, an oversight on the part OF the rob-
Der that saved my life. The two masks
led to the supposition that the murderer
had an accomplice concealed in the will
Iowa.
DO you think that the men were rob-
bers?"
II do. believe they intended to stop the
wagon and rob the passengers and mail
bags, and that their preparations were not
completed when the wagon reached their
place OF concealment. The man who shot
the driver was unmasked. He was a tall
man, dressed in q duck suit, and had a
smooth face. / should know him again il
/ saw him."
Mr.. Merchant had with him a bundle,
which he united Tor the reporters inspec-
tiOn. 1t contained q pair OF blood-stained
shirt cuffs and pair of drawers which
had been literally soaked in the life fluid Of
the unfortunate driver. The articles were
worn by Mr.. Merchant as he supported the
dying man while the horses were flying to
Glendale.
A reward OF $525 is offered for the arrest
and conviction OF the murderer. OF this
sam $500 is subscribed by the Territory,
5000 by the stage company, and $25 by
Mr.. Merchant. The pursuit is continued
With relentless visor, and his capture 10
almost certainty.