Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-09-13

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with any one except the purity present be-
fore the danger should be past, or show
any sign Of treachery Whatever, ne would
blow his trains out iirst.
whether you choose to fight or not, +"
he added, you have got TO remain here
and take the consequences.
1t is not II pleasant thing to be n pas
senger In a coach through wild, lonely
region, that you know is infested wi; h
robbers, and bee in constant expectation
of an assault that may result in the loss
of all your personal possessions, II not
your life; and to a brave, detel mined
man. the suspense, the uncertainty, tie
constant dread Of attack, is really more
trying upon the nervous system than the
moment of action Itself
So it was with our two friends, as they
watched the gradual decline OF day, till
the night had set in, and then, minute
after minute and hour after hour, waited
sill more anxlously for the crisis of their
journey, If not their fate.
1t cannot last. The dlligencia was
slowly working its tortuous way up a
steen and dangerous hill, with high,
Wal!-.ikc bank on the right and danger
Gus prrcipice on the left, when a hoarse
vote" suddenly called out
Halt, and surrender your purses to
the knights of the road p
The dIlgencia stopped, and the two
cowardly MeXicans inside groaned audi
bly,.
in an instant our American frEnds
were ready, pistol in each hand.
Make the slightest noise, you cow
ards, " hissrd the captain through his
shut teeth, addressing the trembling
wretches inside, land you shall have the
in Lp
"Come out and throw yourselves on
your faces r. cried the stentorian voice
Of the robher chief.
a. no one stirred inside-the Mexicans
through fear of the Americans, and the
latter because they intended to resist
where they were-the robbers, becoming
impatient, ierked open the door, with
pains, threatening TO fire into the vehi-
:". Although IL wa- very dark without,
the persons within could dimly perceive
several figures standing beside the dill
gcncla and at these our heroes fired four
suoJs in quick succession. Two of the
bandits instantly dropped, ana there
were loud cries and groans of pain, aud
shouts of surprise and rage, with u quick
falling back OF the rest of the assailarts.
The next moment "a whole vo!ley was
poureu into the diliSencia, creating II ter
rshi' scene of shrieking and confusion
among the passenger.
Ave Maria, Purissima! l am killed /"
cried one of the men.
"Ah-h | am dylng!" shrieked the
other.
Saints have mercy they have broken
my arm = groaned one of the females.
All right with me. How s it with
you, captain? inquired the llcuten-
ant.
"A mere scratch, said the other; "a
matter of a couple Of fingers, that's sti
Il won't do, though, to be cooped up in
here, for the scoundrels to riddle us; thr
chances will be better outside"
80 started up as he spoke, and Was
enleavoring to step over one OF the men
who was writhing and groaning on the
bottom Of the coach, when two more
shots We're simultaneou ,ly fired FROM
without, and he fell down, eXelaiming:
God help me! believe the thieves
have done for mo this time r.
His companions at once bent over him,
tenderly inquiring where he wa hurt
ana cndeavored to lift him up into |. more
comfortable position. The coach Wa, ~
this time like Bedlam-shrieks, guuaEs
prayers, and even curses, all commin-
gied together. Before any one could get
fusion had in any degree nbated, the
door was slammed to, the animals We're
cut loose, and the vehicle and all it cOa-
tanned sent tumbling over the precipL:e
20 the left, down which it lir~L droppeC
some distance with a heavy crash, anu
then rolled over and over down a steep
hill, bringing up at last against Il hug
rUoS, split open and shaUtGrcU.
For a brief moment or two "a. WIS still
as death, and then a few moaus pro-
claimed that life was still rlHfc. Lieut.
Simcoe was the fist to speak. He " H.
much bruised, but not fa;al.y injured.
and no bones were broken.
"Are you alive, captain?' he guNiDusly
inquired.
No answer to the question, but fe-
maze voice fecbly mOaued OUT
20. save ne! Saints and angels, be
mgrtifuIN
""onorta, can l aid your inquired
the lieutenant.
Help! help! for mercy's sake r ro-
piled the same voice; but ell the others
were still.
Simcoe raised himsel anon. the flug-
ments OF the vehicle, an lei. ABOUT IL
the dark in the direction q: the voice.
His hand came in contact with a wound
that covered it with blood. and he drew
1t back with a shudder Then he passed
hi, hand over the body, and discovered
TO his nurror IL was that OF his compan-
ion, Capt. Williams. He spoke to him
again, buo received no answer. He felt
for the pulse and heart, but found both
still; and then no knew he was dead. y
further examination, conducted in the
same manner, disclosed the thrilling fact
that only one beside himself had escaped
with life This was the female who had
prayed for help, and she had q leg and
arm broken, besides other serious injur-
les. With great exertion he managed to
get her out from the wreck, and liking
her in as comfortable position as he
could he left her, groaning with pain,
and crawled away some distance from
the horrid scene, and hid himself in some
bushes, not knowing but the robbers
might pay their victims u visit, to plum
Ter them and murder those they should
find alive.
1t was fearful night that the lieuten-
ant passed there in that lonely place un-
der the trying circumstances, listening to
.ne grOans and prayers Of the living
woman suffering a great deal OF pain
lilHsplt, auj all the time in dread of
some new horror.
But tho ugands, satisfied probably
with the revenge thev had taken, did not
approach their victims again, and early
the n"Nl Gay Il party of mounted police
a ,r,.tr,,t il -nur,.t ~ tpn IliiUnOpiu and