Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-24
HE STOPPED THE STAGE.
A Polite Road Agent and the Rude Advant-
age That Was Taken of Him.

sC'SS1iiS IL between Julesburg and
Cheyenne before the railroad connected
the two, says the New York San. The
through passengers numbered seven,
being five men and two ladies', the
latter being the wives of two of the pas
sengers. He was the only military man
aboard. The two married men we're
Fasteners, who were going to Cheyenne
to set up in mercantile business. One
OF the others was an artist and cores
pondent for New York illustrated
paper, and the fifth was stockman. It
was but natural that they should soon
strike up speaking acquaintance, and
the natural result of this was a general
conversation G, about stage robbers.
Those chaps were pretty numerous at
that time, and the chances were at least
even on the coach being held up before
the end Of the journey. People who
regard themselves in peril often become
communicative. These had not been
travelling half day before it was
known that the two mercantile men
had about $4,000 in greenbacks,
and all but 5000 was concealed in the
bosom Of their wives. The artist had
$l5O IN the lining of his cop and $50
IN his wallet. The stockman had $500
in his wallet and his bootlegs jammed
full OF greenbacks. Long had $50 in
his pocket and not dollar else
where. The fact of his being m army
officer will satisfy all inquiries as to
why he didn't have more. The next
thing was to expect the stage to be
stopped, and to plan what they would
DO. They had all read and heard of
such affairs, but no one had been run
through the mill. The five men each
had trusty revolver, and it was hardly
to be expected that they should permit
themselves to be robbed by one or two
men. 1t was arranged that in case the
stage was stepped the ladies should
sink down out of harms way and give
the men chance to show their mettle.
AS matter of course, they depended
on the driver to help them out as he
could.
1t was about half an hour before sun
down, and they were skirting the cot
tonwoods along the north fork of the
upper Platte, when the driver suddenly
pulled up. They looked out to see
what had happened, and man opened
the right-hand door of the coach and
looked in on them. He was about 80
years Of age, light hair, blue eyes,
sandy beard, and regular features. In
deed, he was good-looking man. His
dress was half hunter, half gentleman,
and he looked clean an tasty. He had
a cooked revolver in his right hand and
his left held the door open.
Gone, three, five, seven, he counted.
"Ladies and gentlemen, am extremely
sorry to put you to any trouble, but
shall have to request you to alight.
That is, the gentlemen will please step
out, while the ladies can remain in the
coach"
The artist was the first one down,
and his revolver was taken as he
reached the ground, and he was ordered
to "stand over there" Each one was
disarmed the same way, and the pistols
of all were flung under the coach.
While no one could say the driver stood
in with the agent he certainly acted q
contemplate part. He had stopped
the coach at a gesture, and now sat on
his seat, his face entirely free from
anxiety. He was armed with two re.
volvers, and he could easily have shot
the agent through the head, as the lat.
ter gave him no attention whatever.
Well, there stood the five men in
line, and the agent surveyed them and
said:
IT must have $4,000 out of this
crowd Captain, place your money on
the ground. Watches and rings I don't
care for, and none of you seem to have
any diamonds"
One threw his wallet down in con-
tempt, and the others followed suit.
The agent picked them up, selected out
the greenbacks, and, upon counting up
the sum total, he laughed merrily, and
observed:
"This crowd must be looking for q
poor-house. Now, gents, no more
fooling. There's money here, and I'm
going to have it. If it isn't in your
pockets it's in the coach. If it isn't in
the coach the ladies have got it. Shell
cut, or I'll search every one of YOU"
Then he backed up to the open door of
the stage, leaving them about ten feet
away, and still covered with his re-
volver.
"Ladies," he said, in a voice as soft
as girls, II didn't mean to trouble
you, but I've had such poor luck out
side that must request a contribution.
Please hand out the money YOU are
CARRYING for these gentlemen.
The women were terribly frightened,
and both at once started to comply with
the order. The husbands saw ruin
staring them in the face, and the one
next to the captain, whose name was
Travers, breathed SO hard that all
could hear him. Suddenly, as if shot
from a cannon, and with the agent still
covering them, Travers sprang for
ward. He made just two jumps to
cover the distance. The revolver
cracked and the bullet cut q lock OF
hair from his head, but next instant
he had seized the barrel with his right
hand, the mans throat with the left,
and was crying for help. All gave ii
fast enough, and inside Of two minutes
had the fellow disarmed and bound.
Standard Time.
What is known rs the "new standard
time" was adopted by agreement by al.
the principal railroads Of the United
Stotas ot 10 o'clock noon on November