St. Landry democrat., 1888-04-28
HANK WALLS BARGAIN.
Terms ON Which a Robber Agreed Not TO
Modest Stage Company.

MOteSC a stage CoiHP~hJ'
The singular freedom enjoyed by the
Northwestern Stage Transportation
Company from road agents during the
early days of its existence, when the
trail led from Bismarck to DeadWood'
was welcome fact which many a
weary traveller in search of the land OF
promise can cheerfully testify to, but
nevertheless it was a source or much
speculation rs to how the immunity
granted the line was to be accounted
for. The Sidney stage was "held up
on nearly every trip, messengers killed
and passengers robbed
In 1877 the line commenced opera
tons between Bismarck and the Black
Hills, doing passenger traffic and also
hauling the gold bricks of the Home
stake Mine, often amounting to S2oo'-
900, thereby promising rich harvest
for the festive road agent who at that
time infested the country through
which the trail ran. Mountains and
gulches lined each side of the lmproy-
ised road, uninhabited, save by the
Indian, affording u magnificent re-
treat for the robbers. who could "hold
up a coach and escape with their
booty into the hills, where it was SIM
ply impossible to find them, much less
recover the property.
Hank Wall was at the head of gang
of free-booters who made their home
in the hills, and who were a terror to
travellers who might from necessity be
compelled to pass through the coun-
try. During the first week that the
Northwestern ran from Bismarck Wall
and his men "held up three coaches,
one being the treasury coach contain-
ing Homestake bullion. After the first
trip, however, Mr.. c.. W. Richardson
now of Pierre, was agent at Bismarck,
and he requested all passengers going
through to deposit their money with
him, he in return issuing 'Deadwood
drafts. Extra precautions were also
taken in the way of guarding each
coach, for outriders armed with re-
peating rifles and selected with refer
ence to their workmanship and nerve,
riding before and behind the coach on
each trip, about one hundred yards dis
tant, thus providing against surprises
and incidentally protecting the pas
sengers. These arrangements soon
rendered the road agents occupation
not only Improbable but attended by
an element of danger which he did not
relish. The passengers carried moth
ing of value and the treasure coaches
were so well guarded that Hank 81
raids began to net him less than would
a raid on an ordinary contributions
box.
One day W. J. Gidley, who had
charge of the drivers. was inspecting
the lines. The coach which he was on
was approached by a horseman who
proved to be the redoubtable blank
himself. Gidley knew him. and, after
passing salutations, he inquired of Wall
what he had been doing. blank re-
piled that he had been holding up
Northwestern coaches till he had gone
broke at it. He then mentioned the
object of his visit. Its this way, Gid.
I've got nephew in Deadwood who is
anxious to get to his home in Fort
Wayne. Ind, where his mother is very
i'll. Now. they're onto me in Dead
wood. so that | cam t 60 after him, and
he's broke Now, if you will promise
to bring the kid through on your next
trip, and buy him a ticket from Bis
marck to Fort Wayne, I'll agree never
to hold up another of your coaches or
cause you any further trouble. Is it a
go2'
Gidley thought the scheme a good
one, and as he knew Wall to be a man
who respected his word, whatever his
other shortcomings might be, the agree.
ment was made, and on the next trip
through to Bismarck the young man
was passenger. The ticket was pur.
chased to Fort Wayne.
Wall was as good as his
word. and from that day to
this not another passenger has
been molested. Wall Immediately
turned his attention to the Sidney line,
and the papers of that town came out
with columns of abuse aimed at the
Northwestern Company, charging il
with being in league with the road
agents, ctc.-Pterre I'd. IT, Cor. CHI.
cago Tribune.