Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-05-29
"PULL UP."

determined TO quit trying to make "a
honest living. There was Bill Jenkins
running faro bank and Mexican Jose
dealing monte and either OF them
made more money in single night
than | did in months work. Rob
bing stage could be but little worse
than dealing faro or monte, so l de-
termined To turn road agent and rob
other men for living
| remember the afternoon was in
tensc'y hot. Leaving my tools in the
mine. | hurried 30 my half brush and
half canvas hut put on the only de-
cent suit of clothes had and set of.
A walk OF mile and n half brought
me to the nearest town and evening
found me betting ut one of the many
gambling games that thrived in the
mines.
Though | had lost many a dollar Gt
gambling, fuck now seemed in my
favor. and before the game closed that
night I had won nearly a thousand
dollars
This made me believe that fortune
was now with me, SO l determined to
possible.
| bought good saddle-horse pair
Of seryiceabe pistols, and adding n
light but handy shotgun. | was ready
to begin my career.
rode up the country some miles to
the next town TO study the lay OF the
land and &c: the run OF the stages.
soon found the one carrying the most
gold wac that coming south from
Shasta but this usually had a good
many passengers. and in those days ell
men vert armed. ! saw that single
handed II would DO useless to GO on
the road, so | looked about for a day
Oh two 80 soc whom | could find that
would answer my purpose. The right
man was not easily found, for wanted
fellow that could be depended upon
in fine uf danger, and one that would
stay sober.
a: length picked up such a man as
I needed. and we two laid our plans
for stopping tho stage l have men-
toned We concluded to have more
help and soon found two more who
wero willing TO risk being shot or sent
to state prison for the sake Of making
q rich stake on the road.
We we're now ready for business.
The Shasta stage passed through Chico
about daylight in tho morning, and rs
this stage brought down the treasures
from the rich mines OF Siskiyou, Yreka
and Shasta. we determined to rob that
at all hazard We selected "a spot Il
few miles south of Chico, whore the
stage had TO pass through a deep
gulch-
We spread out n lot OF hay for our
beds, tied our horses close at hand,
and waited impaticntly for the morn
ing that was to bring us thousands or
else cell in prison. Before daylight
we were up and ready for what might
come.
We saddled our horses carefully and
hid them in the bushes near whore
we intended to stop the stage The
gunc and pistols were examined with
care and then we proceeded to tie a
strong rope across the road in the
deepest part of the gulch. One OF our
mon. Gray. was little nervous; but
my first pal, Slim Jim. and were as
cool as though we had followed the
business for years We had not long
to wait after everything was ready, yet
il seemed an hour before we saw the
cloud of dust that marked the coEiing
OF tho stage. half mile away. We
had planned tho whole job carefully.
and each man knew just what he had
to do. This was no time To finch;
vet / knew that it was an anxious
moment TO all OF US. An instant later
and Jim gave sharp whistle, and
then we knew that our work would
soon begin. Too late TO retreat now
for we could hear the rumble Of the
heavy coach and see the horses pulling
hard on the bits. On they came, and
could make out the express messen-
ger on the box with the driver and
knew that n rich treasure was on
board, for messenger was sent only
when the state had a large amount of
gold. Jim said to the other boys:
Take it easy and don't get excited
for we will soon have a big haul.
We kept we'll out Of sight in tho
thick bushes till the stage came tear
1nV HOWu lnbb lnt illhit BuA'H'
the driver saw the trap. bat it was too
late. for he had TO pull up suddenly to
keep his horses from all piling up in a
heap at the bottom OF the hole.
Just at that moment we sprang out
OF our concealment, and poked our
guns right up in tho faces Of tho driver
and messenger.
.spuIl IN I cried cor We will blow
the top of your heads off,
Pull up they did. and in mighty
short order for il pitched the passen-
gers almost out OF the stage, and we
could hear them cursing and growing
before they knew what had stopped
thcn.
Throw up your hands and be id
quick about Ill" shouted Jim. and in
reply the messenger dropped his gun