St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-06-13


Certainly" I replied, Il like t.
oblige a gentleman when | can, y and
raised the gun little, SO as to point
just over his head, but where | could
make use of it in an instant, if neces-
sary.
While jim and I were interviewing
those in front Gray and the other fell
low kept their guns trained on those IN
the stage, but now that our part was
done they wanted to take what pocket
money the passengers had. TO this
we objected, for we did not want them
to get hold of anything that could be
identified.
Faith, and We be gentlemen, cried
an Irishman on board, 'for leaving us
our loose change but if the rest are in
the same fix as meself, then ye would
be losing your time going through our
pockets"
Before we took the treasure-boX Jim
had unhitched the tugs of the wheel
horses, and these he now hooked VI
again and then started to unite the
rope, when the driver said:
you are mighty kind but haven't
you forgotten something's"
Il guess not" replied Jim, and kept
untying the knots.
We'll" said the driver with i
laugh, II thought you could stand &
treat, as you have made pretty good
haul"
Il am - sorry" said Jim, but
one of our boys drank every drop We
had while waiting for you"
Then we ought to have got along
a little sooner" observed the driver.
'Or a little later when yea had
gone" said the Irishman.
But the farmer said he couldn't see
how that would have made any diff
ference with the whisky.
Neither do To- said the Irishman,
after scratching his head for a mo-
ment.
AS soon as the rope was loose, the
driver gave a yell to the horses, cried
goodbye to us and away the stage went
with overy horse on the keen run. We
hurried off IL little distance from the
road, broke open the box and rolled
out more gold than | ever saw in one
heap before. We divided the money
into four lots right on the spot, and
each man took his share, for we could
not tell now soon we might have to run
from the officers. We did not lose much
time but mounted our horses and rode
down Butte creek a few miles and then
struck across the bottoms for the Sac
ramento river, and the next day got
away over into the Coast range where
we were safe. Gray and the other fell
low were not satisfied to hide little
while, but wanted to get back to some
little town so as to have a good time.
Jim and I struck out for Oregon as
soon as they were gone, for we were
afraid they might get caught and blow
on us. Sure enough, they did get
picked up, but were true blue and
never gave us away, though each OF
them was sent to the state prison.
Jim and | had good luck for long
time and robbed many a stage together,
but we Fever made the haul that we
did with our first one.
If we had saved the money we took
we would have been rich, but we lost
most of it at faro and on horse races.
We travelled through Oregon and
Washington and then got into Idaho.
Here we fixed up job and got away
with it in fine shape, but fellow we
had with us got into the hands Of the
officers and bowed on us, and we were
both arrested.
The rascal turned states evidence,
and both Jim and were convicted and
sentenced to prison. Poor Jim died
there. and | swore that if ever l got
out l would make it hot for the chap
that sent US to Jail.
There was long pause and the doc
tor, who had listened very patiently to
the robbers sto,R', stepped up to the
table to give the man a stimulant. He
shook his head and said:
mo more for me; my time is nearly
up, and | want to die with a clear
head" Waiting moment longer, he
continued: Tonight I found him
Yes, and got shot for your
trouble, replied sle doctor, looking at
the strong man stretched on the bed
before him.
but not till I had fixed him." said
the man s'He has paid the debt he
owed Jim and me, for he is dead be-
fore this
Another pause. Then he said slow.
ly: you have got the money, doctor?'
Yes
"And will see me decently buried?"
II will" was Che reply.
This seemed to satisfy the man, and
he dropped off into short sleep. When
he awakened from this his mind began
to wander, and he went back to his
first stage robbery, now talking to Jim
and now calling CO the driver to halt
and throw up his hands. Then he
talked of the mines. His sentences
were short and broken, for his strength
was failing fast. Before morning he
was dead.
His true name was never known,
and if he had friends or acquaintance
he never mentioned them. The head
stone that marks his resting-place has
upon it only the words, Idaho Bill;
died July 10, 1884"
Was Moses Wife a Negroes.
The only authority for such a sup
position is found in the first verse OF