Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-10-13
THE STAGE. !;
A Polite 1k.~< Agent n h Rude Az
vantage That Was Takon of Him.

vantage That Was akon of Him. =,
Capt. Long, an army officer, was
staging it between. Julesburg and Chey-,
enne before the railroad connected the
two, says the New York Sam. The
through passengers numbered seven,'
being five men and two ladies, the latter,
being the wives of two of the passengers
He was the only military man aboard.
The two married men were e%asterners,'
who were going to Cheyenne to set up
in mercantile business. One of the
others was an artist and correspondent
for a New York illustrated paper, and
the fifth was a stockman. It was but
natural that they should soon strike up
a speaking acquaintance, and the
natural result of this was a general con-:
versation 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 COM
municative. These had not been travel
ing half a day before it was known that;
the two mercantile men had about $16,-,
600 in greenbacks, and all but 5000 was;
concealed in the bosoms of their wives.
The artist had $3.50 in the lining of his
cap and $50 IN his wallet. The stock
man had 800 in his wallet and his
bootlegs jammed full of greenbacks.
Long had $50 in his pocket and not a;
dollar elsewhere. The fact of his being
an 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 a 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 stopped the ladies should sink
down out of harms way and give the
men a chance to show their mettle. AS
q matter of course. they depended on tho
driver to help them out as he could.
It was about half an hour before SUM-
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 a man opened the
right-hand door of the coach and look
ed in on them. He was about 80 years
of age, light hair, blue eyes, sandy
beard, and regular features. Indeed,
he was a good-loohing man. His dress
was half hunter, half gentleman, and
he looked clean and tasty. He had a
cooked revolver in his right hand and
his left held the door open.
Observation-Disclosures" he count
ed. 'Ladies and gentlemen, l am ex-
tremely sorry to put you to any trouble,
but l shall have to request you to alight.
That is, the gentlemen will please step
out, while the ladies a remain in the
coach"
The artist was the first one down, and
his revolver was taken as he reached
the ground, and he was rdered to
'tstand over there" Each one was dis
armed the same way, and the pistols of
all were flung under the coach. While
nc 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, with face entirely free from anxiety.
He was armed with two revolvers, and
he could have easily shot the agent
through the head, as the latter gave
him no attention whatever. Well, there
stood the five men in line, and the agent
surveyed them, and said: :
Il must have $4,000 out of this crowd.
Captain, place your money on the
ground. Watches and rings l 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 a
poor-house. Now, gents, no more fool
ing. There's money here, and I'm 60
ing 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 1t. Shell
out, or I'll search every n 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 a girls, Il didn't mean to trouble
you, but I've had such poor luck out
side that I must request a contribution.
Please had out the money you are carry
ing 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 n
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 cover
ing them, Travers sprang forward. He
made just two jumps to cover the dis
lance. The revolver cracked and the
bullet cut a lock of hair from his head,
but the next instant he had seized the
barrel with his right hand, the mans
throat with his left, and was crying for
help. All gave it fast enough, and in
side of two minutes had the fellow dis
armed and bound. .
Three rather able girls are the daugh-,
s.., - = A nroxa1 tho ~Phi1adp1nh1a: