Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-06
IT was FATE.
THE HEROINE OF A DARING
STAGE ROBBERY.
the Robbery Of the Grass VAL
ley Stage, July %, 1873.

Written by Ed. Munson. from data furnished by
J. B. Hume, Chief special officer of Wells,
Fargo Co.
In 1873, before the Nevada County Mar
row Gauge Railroad was built, passengers,
mail and express matter for Nevada City,
Grass Valley and adjoining camps were
carried by stage from Colfax, on the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad. To accommodate
the traffic two six-horse coaches were run
daily between Colfax and Nevada City
during the week, but on Sunday only one
coach made the trip. These coaches had
three seats on the inside, accommodating
three passengers each on the seat with
the driver there was room for one more,
and on the top or deck of the stage two
other seats, called dickey seats, made
room for six passengers, SO that the total
capacity OF the stage was sixteen passen-
gers.
To protect in measure the large ship
ments of treasure carried on the line BY
Wells, Fargo q Co., a wrought-iron safe
was built into the back part of the stage,
and, being cushioned on top, served as the
inside back seat of the coach.
On the afternoon of Sunday, July 81,
1878, handsome and remarkably intelli-
gent-looking young lady, whose name ap-
peared upon the stage books as Miss T.
Weber, was watching with an interest
which clearly betrayed its ownership the
hosting of a large trunk to the deck of
one OF these coaches standing in front of
Wells, Fargo & Co.'s office at Colfax.
After the trunk had been placed in po-
sition and securely dashed, the mail-bags
thrown on and the express agent, Mr..
Story, had put pouch containing $1,000
in gold coin, and three packages contain
ing $50, SIS and $40, respectively, in the
safe and carefully locked the same, the
young lady was assisted into the coach
and took her place on the back seat imme-
dlately over the treasure. The other pas
sengers, eleven in number-all men-now
clambered to their seats. Judge T. B.
Mcfarland, now of the Supreme Court
E. Black Ryan, at present the well-known
railroad attorney, and the Hon. w. r.
Tully took the "dickey" seat beyond Hon.
A. A. Sargent and the driver Bob Scott,
while an extra driver, George Sutton, oc-
cupied the rear dickey seat. The re-
mainder, among whom were c. G. Coolidge,
&. Nj. Mason, K. Caspar and Mr.. Clements,
bestowed themselves inside the coach.
The presence of so many prominent law
yers upon the same stage is accounted for
by the fact that Court opened in Nevada
City the following day, and the trial of an
important civil suit, involving large
amount Of money, was to begin. After
everything was finally secured and all be-
ing IN readiness, the coach at last started,
about o'clock In the afternoon, for Ne
vada City and Grass Valley.
The road for the first few miles led, with
many curves and windings, down to Bear
river, yet with such an easy and regular
descent that the team made the entire dis
lance on lively trot. 1t was the very
poetry of staging. Rounding rugged
point at one moment, the leaders would
disappear, engulfed apparently in the pale
blue atmosphere which hangs over dizzy
nights, the nextswinging around the point,
the wheels grazing the very verge of an
abyss, where far below, through depths of
swimming air, CLEANED the foaming waters
of Bear river, would glide into the shadowy
recess of some dark ravine, through whose
murmuring depths OF clustering cedars
welled up the cool refreshing plash of fall
ing stream.
After crossing the Bear river the grade
was ascending, and progress necessarily
much slower. With so many of the bright
est minds of the State on board, however,
il can easily be believed that conversation
never tagged, but with witty sallies and
brilliant repartee, as the coach toiled
slowly up the grade, Times tagging foot
steps were unnoticed. In this intellectual
exercise our young lady ON the back seat
took no unimportant part, but by her in
telligence, wit and vivacity gained the I'M
disguised but respectful admiration of the
entire party.
The summit of the grade was reached
Just as the setting sun was gliding the
western horizon. From the dusky valley
silently up the Sierra's slopes the somber
hosts of night came stealing Hight after
hight fell before that resistless advance,
till only from the loftiest peaks famed the
banners of retiring day. Softly and peace
fully that summer Sabbath was drawing
to close. The dusty chaparral by the
roadside rustled with the skurrying fight
of timid cottontails, while from the manza-
nita on the hillside the mellow-voiced
quail piped its vesper. "The shrill cicada,
people Of the pine" led natures stringed
orchestra, and the myriad-voiced hymn of
insect life rose throbbing through the soft
evening air
The passengers on the coach were not
lnsensible to the charm of the hour, and
as the coach rolled onward in the long
summer twilight, yielding to the spell of
the moment f. Black Ryan essayed in
mellifiuous tones the execution of that
sweet old Irish melody, "The Low backed
Car"
The stage was now nearing the lower
end of Sheets ranch, some four or five
miles out Of Grass Valley, the inclosing
fence of which ran along the north or
right hand side of the road. The team
was walking slowly, and the passengers
were listening enchanted to Mr.. RYAN.
who, reclining in hisseat with head thrown
back, completely absorbed in his musical
effort, was rendering in a manner entirely
his own, difficult passage in the story of
Peggy, when four armed, masked men,
stepped from a gateway in the fence and
formed across the road. The next moment
the passengers found themselves covered
by three shotguns and revolver, and the
stage and the song came to a sudden halt
at one and the same moment. Silence fol-
lowed for few moments, and was becom-
ing positively oppressive, when Bob Scott,
the driver, hoping, possibly, that their de-
signs might be upon the singer and not
upon the treasure box, asked "What do
you want?' and then, the ice being broken
as it were, Mr.. Ryan, in voice intended
to be kind and conciliatory, inquired :
Yes, boys, what does this mean?"
1--WE want that treasure-box," was the
concise reply. Ryan breathed freely once
more, and the driver, with sublime readi-
ness responded, {" It's on the other stage.'
This unexpected information seemed to
stagger the highwayman, but quickly re-
covering himself, he said: DWELL, we
will keep you till the other stage comes
up"