Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-09
"?HPOW OUT The BOX !'
TWO MASKED HIGHwAYMEN ROB THE
AUBURN STAGE.
An Express-Box Opened-Four Passen-
gers Robbed, but One Man Stands
the Rascals Of.

William Muir, a prominent citizen of
Michigan Bluff, Placer county, was in the
city yesterday, and to RECORD UNION re-
porter gave full and detailed account of
the robbery of the stage running between
that place and Auburn, which occurred on
Monday afternoon last. The coach was in
charge of Gordon Cowan, proprietor of the
line. 1t left Michigan Bluff at o'clock A
NJ, with five passengers inside, and had
reached a point within one and one-half
miles of Auburn at o'clock P. NJ, when
two masked men, one armed with double
barreled shotgun and the other with a 40
caliber pistol. stepped suddenly from be-
hind rock by the roadside, and COM
manded the driver to halt, which he did.
'HoLD UP YOUR HANDS,"
The robbers then ordered the five passen-
gers, one of whom was a Chinaman, to get
out, stand in a row and hold up their
hands. While the big robber, who carried
the shotgun, covered the men with his
weapon, his companion ordered the driver
to throw out the two boxes of Wells, Fargo
d. Co., which was done. The driver was
ordered to alight, but on his request to be
allowed to hold his team and keep on the
brake (the stage being on down gradel he
was not urther molested.
The smaller of the two robbers-the one
who carried the pistol-then set to work to
break open one of the boxes. He took a
miners drill-hammer from his pocket and
began pounding on the lid of the box, but
soon broke the hammer, and had to COM
plete the job with stone The box con-
tanned only way-bills and other papers.
and the disguised robber replaced them
and was about to break open the other box,
when the driver informed him that it was
empty, and asked him not to spoil it. He
shook it, and being satisfied that it con-
tained nothing, turned his attention to the
passengers.
The man with the shotgun directed the
other to first disarm all who might have
weapons or them, which he proceeded to
do. securing pistol from the Chinaman.
When he came to Muir, the latter warned
him to attempt no familiarity further than
to feel the outside of his clothing and sat
isfy himself that he Muir had no weapon,
as it was against his principles to allow
any man to rob him.
GOING THROUGH" THE PASSENGERS.
One of the passengers, named a. G.. Bow
man, was then relieved of a bowie knife
which he had secreted in one of his sleeves,
and to which the attention of the robbers
was directed by Bowman making a move
ment as if to get hold of the handle. He
was ordered to withdraw the knife and
throw 1t upon the ground, which he did.
Then the work of robbery commenced.
The first of the passengers made to dis
gorge was the Chinaman, who gave up
81 40 in silver. He had a large sum in
gold stitched in his underclothing, how
ever, which the robbers did not get
Bowmans purse, containing $50 in gold
and number of valuable gold specimens,
was taken from him. The next person in
the line was Frank Powell, one of the
drivers on the stage line, but who
was travelling as passenger at
the time. From him the robber got
some small change, but returned a
check for 5000. He also returned Powell's
watch, at the request of Cowan, who told
him that Powell was stage-driyer, and
that 1t was not customary to rob the
drivers.
The next victim was teamster. He had
but little money about him and gave it up
with as much grace as possible
THEN CAME MUIR's TURN.
He had refused to obey the order to stand
IN the line, and the robbers saw they had a
determined person to deal with. So the
smaller one approached him guardedly
and poked his pistol into Muir's face. his
companion meantime keeping the latter
covered with the shotgun
Muir had had considerable experience of
this kind on the same road in years past
and never for moment lost his GOODNESS
and presence of mind. Looking the little
fellow straight in the eye he warned him
not to lay hands upon him, and soon got
the fellows measure-or, mere commonly
speaking, had "sized him up for all there
was in him." Seeing that he was a cow
ard, and dared not shoot, Muir walked
straight between him and the man with
the shotgun.
The latter threw his gun to his shoulder
| and commanded Muir to halt, which he
| did just long enough TO catch the fellows
| eye.
ANOTHER STEP AND LII KILL YoUr'
| Cried the highwayman. Muir satisfied
| himself that the other robber was in direct
| range with himself and the shotgun, and
| had full confidence in his own ability to
evade the charge, should the larger robber
shoot, and force the latter's companion to
receive it.
Muir advanced another step, still keep
ing his eyes on those of the man before
| him. So confident was he of his own abil-
| ity TO avoid the shot that he determined to
advance, compel the robber to fire and
then jump in and disarm him.
"Stop, you - -" hissed the high
wayman. Stop, or I'll blow your head
| off,
| By this time the little fellow was shaking
all over with fear and excitement, and his
pistol fell from his grasp upon the ground,
while he began to beg his companion not
| to shoot.
WHY DON'T YOU SHOOT,
/ i 4
answer, as he saw the big fellow also begin
to weaken He really wanted him to
shoot, as he knew there would then be but
| one man instead of two to contend with, as
the little fellow would surely be killed, and
| not he.
I 1t was moment of thrilling suspense to
all but Muir, who declares that he felt per-
fectly safe. As he stood there defying the
| highwayman to shoot, the latter was also
seized with the shakes" although he tried
TO look determined. Realizing that mat
tiers were approaching crisis, he told Muir
that they would let him go and not try to
rob him, rather than have to kill him.
Muir says that owing to the possibility of
the fellows becoming desperate and per-
haps ipjuripg somebody, he concluded not
to push matters further and
ACCEPTED THE COMPROMISE.
| Inc passengers tnen all got into the
coach and resumed their journey, the rob-
bers covering them with their weapons un-
til out of sight. On reaching Auburn, the
robbery was reported to the agent of Wells,
Fargo & Co.
Mr.. Muir said he felt quite confident that
if Mr.. Cowan could have left his horses to
assist him, they would have been able to
capture both the highwaymen and take
them into camp. He says he has been
stood up" number of times, but was
never yet robbed, and claims that by cool
ness and presence of mind a courageous
man can stand off the average road agent.