The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-06-06
"PULL UP. "

nau WORKED IN the mines Oh tdtl-
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 10 make an
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 "a months work. Rob
blng a stage could be but little worse
than dealing faro or monte. so | de-
termined 10 turn road agent and rob
other men for living.
/ remember the afternoon was in
tensely hot. Leaving my tools in the
mine. hurried 10 my half brush and
half canvas hut put on the only de-
cont suit OF clothes i had and set of.
A walk OF mile and half brought
me 10 the nearest town and evening
found me betting ut one OF the many
gambling games that thrived in the
mines.
Though had lost many dollar at
gambling. luck now seemed In my
favor. and before the game closed that
night had won nearly thousand
dollars.
This made me believe that fortune
was now with me, SO | determined TO
sot of on my exploits as soon as
possible.
| bought good saddle-horse. pair
OF seryiccabe pistols. and adding n
light but handy shotgun, | was ready
10 begin my career.
/ rode up the country some miles TO
tho 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 good
many passengers, and in those days all
men went armed. / saw that single
handed IL would be useless 10 go on
the road. so | looked about for "A day
or two 60 see whom / could find that
would answer my purpose. The right
man was not easily found. for ! wanted
n fellow that could be depended upon
In time OF danger. and one that would
stay sober
At length picked up such n man as
needed and we two laid our plans
for stopping tho stage | have men
toned. We concluded 10 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
a rich stake on the road.
We were now ready for business.
Tho Shasta stage passed through Chico
about daylight In the morning, and as
this stage brought down the treasures
from the rich mines Of Siskiyou. Yreka
and Shasta. we determined 20 rob that
at all hazard. We selected spof a
few miles south OF Chico where the
stage had 10 pas5 through IA deep
gulch.
We spread out lot OF hay for our
beds tied our horses close at hand.
and waited impatiently for the morn
ing that was 10 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. The
guns and pistols were examined with
care, and then we proceeded 20 tie a
strong rope across the road In the
deepest part of the gulch. One OF our
men. 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
10 seemed an hour before we saw the
cloud OF dust that marked the coming
OF the stage. half mile away. We
had planned the whole job carefully.
and each man knew just what he had
20 do. This was no time 20 finch;
yet | knew that IL was an anxious
moment TO all OF us. An instant later
and Jim gave a sharp whistle and
then we knew that our work would
soon begin. Too late 20 retreat now
| for we could hear the rumble OF tho
heavy coach and see the horses pulling
hard on the bits. On they came. and
/ could make out the express mcssen-
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 10 the other boys,
Take IL easy and don't get excited.
for we will soon have n 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 Il was too
late. for he had 30 pull up suddenly 20
keep his horses from all piling up in r.
heap nj the bottom of the hole.
Il Just M TINT moment we sprnnr out