Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-06-01
Riding For Dear Life


aisrepute among the people for the
lax methods employed in the admin
istration OF justice upon captured
criminals and outlaws, At the time
Of the organization Of the vigilnntes
affairs had reached a crisis, and
young and old, including many o.
the best citizens of San Francisco,
leagued themselves together and
formed what's even now remembered
IN the Golden State as the strongest
and most powerful organization OF
the kind ever known. 1t soon grew
to enormous proportions, and its
labors extended over a great por-
ton of the State outside the city,
The most binding oaths OF secrecy
were exacted and they were always
religiously kept. AT first there were
those who wanted to suppress the
order, but these soon learned Tor
their own health's sake TO hold their
peace, aud, finally, the vigilantes be-
came so bold that prisoners were
carried without molestation nom
tails, crowded court-houses and
other places.
II was early in 1858, in the palmi'
est days of the vigilances sway, that
John Neumann, now a gray'haired
veteran of about seventy, had the
adventure that he loves so vel now
TO talk about. There had been "A
series of stage robberies oil around
San Francisco, and the fayOrite prey
oil the robbers seemed to DO the Sac
ramento overland. This stage had
been stopped no less than six times
in as many weeks by the robbers,
and all efforts to capture them had
met with signal failure. Vigilantes,
armed to the teeth, accompanied the
stage ON each trip, but every time
they were compelled either TO hold
up their hands or to fight while UNI
der cover OF the highwaymen's weap-
ons. On the fifth day after the last
robbery had occurred, Il became
known that large quantity oigold-
dust was 10 leave Sacramento for
San Francisco, and double guard
was placed ON the coach.
On the morning following the day
on which the coach loft, mt just about
daybreak, three men With masks
drawn over their faces and mounted
upon handsome and well.trained
animals, appeared directly in front
OF the coach, and tho cry Of Halt"
greeted the ears OF the halt slumbsr-
ing guards. The driver, seeing thres
rifles aimed directly at him, pulled
the horses back, and the coach was
brought to stop. One Of tbs
guards raised rifle TO his shoulder
but, before he could pull the trigger
he fell back with "a bullet through hi,
heart. Then terrific tusillade Of FIR
ing began, which lasted for seyeralmo
ments. The guards won the day
: one OF the robbers was killed, nnc
the other two were beaten Oh. Thu
I driver Of the coach and one Of th'
a guards we're killed, and another
, guard was badly wounded.
One OF the yigilantcs jumped I,
! thu ground, tore the mask from tn
robbers face, and to his great aston
ishment recognized him as n promi
nent and respected citizen OF Snl
Francisco. This explained in grea
o part why it had been impossible Il
o locate the robber. for tho robberic
Q had doubtless all been committed b,
: persons Of this character. One q
o the other robbers rode white horse
= the third rode sorrel. Both wor
= wide-brimmed slonch hats and blacl
!, clothes. A passenger volunteered Il
I drive the coach, and the horses spe,
:, TO the nearest stage station, abou
y four miles distant, where relays q
2 horses were kept. Two oftheguard
mounted fresh animals and started o
as rapidly as possible tor Sn
Francisco.
q About two hours later they reache
Al the city and reported the case q
!, headquarters. Fifty mounted Wig
= lantes were dispatched in " dire,
: lions In nearly ~ many minutes wit
= orders to bring back the robbeI
a dead oralive. The news OF the a
y tempted robbery and tho fight sprea
q like wildfire throughout the cit,
pr Some one said that John Neumani
l. wearing a dark suit OF clothes and
4. slouch hat, had left tho city ON Il
a. morning Of the preceding du
i mounted on white horse, and this
h. he had returned only about nm hoI
= previously. The statement WI
2 verified by several persons, and Il
u vIgilantes determined to institute
oil chase for him.
I'd Neumann stood at the edge OF b
h crowd which gathered to talk abot
a the crime and heard his name me
q. toned as being connected with
NJ He had been absent from home
a. the time Of the affair and had retur
! ed that morning. IL was remar
|; able coincidence, and he was In
- bad predicament. He knew that
IN q court Of justice no would be able
ne establish his innocence, but the
ot- WIS little hope OF doing so before
he tribunal Of the vigilantes. He hi
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