Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-05-29
"PULII UP"

/ had worked in the mines OF Cali
fornia for two years, but bad luck
seemed TO follow me, so one hot sum
mer day | threw down my pick and
determined TO quit trying TO make IA
honest living. There was Bill Jenl1inS
running a faro bank and Mexican Jose
dealing monte, and either OF them
made moro money in single night
than | did in months work. Rob-
bing stage could be but little worse
than dealing faro or monte, SO / de-
termined 10 turn road agent and rob
other men for a living.
/ remember the afternoon was in
tense'y hot. Leaving my tools in the
mine. hurried TO my half brush and
half canvas hut, pat on the only de-
sent suit OF clothes had and set of.
A walk OF II milo and half brought
me TO the nearest town and evening
found mo betting at one of tho many
gambling games that thrived in the
mines.
Though had lost many dollar nt
gambling, luck now seemed in my
favor. and before the game closed that
night i had won nearly u thousand
dollars.
This mudo me believe that fortune
was now with me- so determined to
set OH ON my exploits AZ soon as
possible.
bought q good saddle-horsc, pair
Of serviceable pistols and adding n
tight but handy shotgun, was ready
to begin my career.
rode up the country somo miles to
the next town to study the lay OF the
land and get the run of the stages.
soon found the one carrying the most
gold WAS that coming south from
Shasta. but this usually had n good
many passengers, and in those days oil
men went armed. | saw that single
handed it would be useless to go on
the road. 50 / looked about for day
OF two to SEQ whom l could find that
would answer my purpose. The right
man was not easily found, for | wanted
fellow that could be depended upon
in time OF danger and one that would
stay sober.
As longth picked up such a man as
I needed. and we two laid our plans
for stopping the stage l have mon
toned. We concluded to have more
help. and soon found two more who
were willing to risk being shot or sent
to state prison for the sake of making
n rich stake on the road.
We were now ready for business.
The Shasta stage passed through Chico
about daylight in tho morning, and as
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 n spot
few miles south of Chico, whore the
stage had to pass through n deep
g1ilch.
We spread out a lot of hay for our
beds. tied our horses close vt 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 where
we intended to stop the stage. Tho
guns and pistols were examined with
care, and then we proceeded to tie
strong rope across the road in the
deepest part of the guch. One of our
men. Gray. was a little nervous; but
my first pal. Slim Jim. and were as
cool as though we had followed tho
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 coming
OF the 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;
yet / knew that it was an anxious
moment to all of us. An instant later
and Jim gave q sharp whistle. and
then we knew that our work would
soon begin. Too late 10 retreat now
for we could hear the rumble of tho
heavy coach and SEQ the horses pulling
hard on the bits. On they came, and
! could make out the express messen-
ger on tho box with the drivcN and
knew that rich treasure was on
board. for messenger was sent only
when the state had large amount of
gold. Jim said to the other boys:
Take it easy and don't get excited,
for we will soon have big haul"
We kept well out of sight in tho
thick bushes till the stage came tear
ing down into the little gulch, when
the driver saw the trap, but 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 VIC sprang ont
OF our concealment, and pol1ed our
guns right up in the faces of the driver
and messenger.
Pull up" cried cor we will blow
the top of your heads Of"
Pull up they did and in mighty
short order, for it pitched the passen-
gers almost out OF the stage, and we
could hear them cursing and growing
before they knew what had stopped
then.
Throw up your hands and be id
quick about itl' shouted Jim. and in
replv the messenger dropped his GUN