Daily Republican., 1888-01-06
TRAVELS PLUoKy JUMP.


new towns of the West up TO FIVE years
ago there was distinctive class OF
men by whom 1t was almost pleasure
10 be held up. They were, as a rule.
men of quiet demeanor, never given
Ia brawls, seldom seen drunk, and
ever ready to champion the cause of
the oppressed. 1t is doubtful If one of
this class has survived the onward
march ct civilization, while as for the
other classes-thc desperadoes ever
ready to shoot or stab, the towards
who ambushed their victims, and the
| camp and saloon brawlers-the sherifis
have hunted them out and awed them
into good behavior. .-.-
Captain Long, an army officer, was
staging It between Julesburg and
cheyenne before the railroad connect
ed the two. The through passengers
numbered seven, being five men ana
two ladies, the latter the wives of two
l OF the passengers. He was the only
military man aboard. The two mar
ried men were Fasteners, who were
going TO Cheyenne to set up in mer-
camille business. One OF the others
was an artist and correspondent for
New York illustrated paper, and the
fifth was a stockmsn. 1t was but natu
raj that they should soon strike up a
speaking acquaintance, and the natural
result of this was general CONVERSE
ton 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 $16, 900 in greepbacks,
land all hut 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 and his boot legs iammed
full of greenbacks, Long had $50 In
his pocket and not dollar elsewhere.
The fact of his being an army officer
Twill satisfy all inquiries as TO why he
didn't have more. .--.4
The next thing was to expect the
stage TO be stopped and to plan what
thsy would do. They had all read
and heard Of such affairs. but no one
had been through the mill. The five
men each had Il 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
Ichance 10 show their mettle. AS a
matter Of course they depended on the
driver TO help them out as best he
could.
It was about halt an hour before
shutdown, and they were skirting the
cotton woods along the north fork of
the upper Platte, when the driver sud
denly pulled up. They looked to see
the cause, and man opened the
Iright-hand door of the coach and
looked in on them. He was about
thirty years of age, light hair, blue
eyes, sandy beard. and regular lea
lures. Indeed, he was good looking
man. His dress was hali-hunterp
half gentleman, and tasty. He had
Cooked revolver in his right hand and
us lttl Heii lut nbDT open.
observation-disclosures" he
lcounted. Ladies' and gentlemen, |
am extremely sorry to put you to any
trouble, but | shall have TO request
you to alight. That is, the gentlemen
Twill please step out, while the ladies
can remain in the coach. 3"
They had planned how they were to
open fire and riddle the fellow with
bullets. Here he was, and not one of
the men made move. Why1 Well,
ii seemed as If those blue eyes kept
close watch of every mans hand. The
captain relates that his first thought
was to slip his hand down to his re-
volver, but the instant his arm moved
the fellow seemed to cover him, say
ing:
Gentlemen, hope I shall not be
obliged to shoot any OF you. Please
come out. y
Ii is no use TO say they were set OF
towards, Tor such was far from being
the case. They were packed In the
coach like sardlnes, no one prepared
TO shoot, and it takes time to draw
revolver and make ready. 1t is proba,
BILE that II any OF them had attempted
it, there would have been tragedy.
The captain was on the front seat,
and he hoped that us he rose up TO
leave the coach he might draw his
weapon unobserYed, but the agent had
been there before. The artist was the
| first one down, and his revolver was
taken as he reached the ground, and
he was ordered 10 ''staud over there. F"
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 contemplate part.
Tie had stopped the coach at q gesture
and now sat on his seat with his face
|entirely free from anxiety. He WIS
armed with two revolgGrs, and he
could have easily shot the agent
through the mead, as the latter gave
him no attention whatever. Well,
there stood the FIVE men in line, and
the agent surveyed them and said:
81 must have 5000 out OF this
crowd Captain, place your money
on the ground. Watches and rings
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
ont the greenbacks, and upon count
ing up the sum total, he laughed
merrily and said;
''This crowd must be looking for a
D0OrlOuap Now panta no moro