Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-02
1 was lust sunset when the .

Al Was Just sunset when the \
'pndy 20 10 on, but there were two OF us
yho did not propose 10 10 that way. We
cie unarined, but determined, and while
lc stage numbered of down the road We
una a club apiece and set out on tine trail
the robbers. Luckily for us, the miner
al been long ia the country and seen a
cd deal Of The hunters lie. w there
ore had no difficulty In following the trail
Mtil darkness came ~. The fellows made
.!rcctly for the foothills. and We had no
.pubt that they had some sort Of cave or
ronqnold II there They took matters
O coolI that they could not have been n
great way ahead of us when darkness fell.
4 was then for resting until daylight, but
he miner urged hat we should push on.
From the topography of the country he
felt certain that a rsvine OF rift would be
found not far away. We were then be-
tween the foothills and the true mountain.
in a narrow valley, and a full moon had
come up. Without this light we could not
nave made our way, rs the ground was
much broken and powders lay tlickly
scattered about.
We went ahead very cautiously up this
valley for about n mile, and Of u sudden q
rift opened 10 the left and the glare Of q
campfire greeted our eyes. II was not
over 200 feet away. and after a minute we
made out the forms Of the two men as
they seemed TO I've preparing supper. We
had found them. but what Of II? They
had al. the arms and we were defenseleSs.
We crept back a few yards 10 hold n con
sultation, and the miner carefully studied
the lay of the land. He was of the opinion
that IL WAS a short, dry rift, with a cave ut
he far end. Three sides were enclosed by
gslls OF earth and rock, and u only way
Eas 70 attack the men from above. How
high we would have 20 climb, and what
he difficulties. we could not say. We
we're not three minutes deciding to make
he attempt, aud VI prepared for 1t by
eaping coats, vcst., bats, and boots be-
lind. " began the ascent about Il hun
tired fee, back from the mouth OF the rift.
md / do not believe two panthers could
rave done better. The side OF the noun.
ain was thickly covered with cedars,
zines, and rocks. and progress was made
almost entirely by creeping. Once we
irew ourselves ny a cliif full twenty feet
high by a grapevine hanging down, and
again we made use OF a tree 10 seek q
higher elevation. We had been going up
for half an hour before We bore oil 10 the
right in the direction of the rift. We then
mad To move far more cautiously, and l
presume il was q full hour from the time
we left the valley before we lay IN orr
stomachs "A hundred feet above the camp
lire and looked over. The men were di.
rcctly beneath US. sitting close together.
and smoking as they counted the money,
We had but one way 10 attack. Luckily
for US il was a straight descent. / could
ave dropped a coin fair upon the hat Of
he man beneath NE We were out upon
! rocky shelf, but there were loose stones
II all sizes all about Us. | selected one
weighing about twenty-five pounds, the
miuer got ne equally as large. and We
aTefully crept back 10 the edge with
them The fall Of the smallest pebble
would startle the men below, and We used
IS much caution as IL our lives would pay
he forfeit. After a bit we were ready.
The men had not moved. For about a
minute ! lost my nerve. II seemed shor-
nble thing 10 do. Had | been alone ! he.
,ieve ! should have rclented. The miner
seemed To read my thoughts, and he put
MS mouth TO my. ear and whispered:
'RemembS- how they shot the ranch.
man. and <member. that they took our
.very shifting
We POISED the stones on the edge Of the
elf and at a whispered Now" from him
.ydropped them. | heard them strike.
snd drew back. tie peered over, and after
"a moment recovered his balance and said
Now We can go down! Those chaps
will never rob another coach"
1t took Us longer TO 60 down than 10
come up. but We made the descent ia safe.
~, and walked around to and up the rift.
The tire bad nearly died out. We replen-
shed il, aud then Saw that both men were
lead. II was Il horrible sight and one /
10 not care 10 describe. Our rocks had
fallen squarely down upon their heads, and
YOU can imagine the result. There was a
Try, airy cave but a few feet away, and
he gang had made the place a rendezvous
or n long time. We recovered every dol
ar our coach had been robbed OF and
more h q a. much again Which had been
aiken from others. The cave had 3 biz
,upply Of IRE arms. blankets. aud provi-
ions, and in p mail bag hanging On the
vail were ten gold and silver watches.
Ne got altogether sixteen watches. five or
TX valuable pins. aud firearms worth al
east 5000. We not only secured the
wealth. but We made an even divide and
Kept every dollar Of il. An attempt wa,
made in Stockton TO compel us 20 "dlvy'
With several people who bad been robbed,
u it was q failure. As the tourist was
,ut of ready cash VIC gave him 5000. but
We would not even sell the lieutenant back
ais watch at any rate. It WAS told all oveI
he slope that our haul amounted 10 $25.
no. II it did we earned every dollar oil
t, besides wiping out n bad gang and lesv
~ the stage line clear for the next 81,
Months.
Gambetta's Monument.
Tl,are ia a hitch In the CONSTRUCTION anS