Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-07
HELD UP THE COACH.
Frank Richardson's Thrilling Ex-
perience With Road Agents.
THE NEW TARIFF ON IRISH LINEN.
A North of Ireland Man Not Afraid It Will
Affect His Friends.
MEXICO IN A VERY QUIESCENT STATE

One of the actors who attracted much at
tention in Pittsburg last week was Frank
Richardson. He is man of powerful ply
sique, yet graceful in every move. The
most singular part of his history is that he
was stage driver in the West the greater
part of his life, and drifted to the footlights
through becoming acquainted with actors
whom he piloted over the mountains. He
is now 36 years old, and is a son of David
Richardson, the famous guide, who is known
all along the Pacific Coast. He also owned
a stage-coach line.
From the time he was IA years old Frank
Richardson was a stage driver. In those
days it was position ofgreat responsibility,
much the same as the captain of steamer,
for into his care was entrusted the lives of
his passengers. 1t was dangerous work,
for there were many places in the mount
aims where, if the wheels varied foot from
the track, it meant death. Much of the
time he drove for Russell & Sisson.. They
we mail and express routes and the stage
had to be at each given point on time, or the
driver had to make good the losses.
DRIFTED ONTO THE STAGE
About nine years ago he drove ALI
Wyman, Snowman, over the route, and
was induced by him to lead the way for his
road show. From that he did work in the
concert, and finally drifted on the legitimate
stage. In a talk the other day he gave the
following experience:
"Yes, was frequently held up by road
agents. OF course l gave up. Any man
ufn Of 1a OOI Hha oh
bers always have the advantage. The
coach is always attacked on an up grade,
and always at place where there is a
canyon on one side so that there is only
one side to watch. You only see one man.
He orders you to stop. Only part of him
is visible, and you might shoot at him half
dozen times without hitting him, and then
you don't know how many other guns
are pointed at you. You hear stories of
two men holding up stage 1t appears so,
but then you don't know how many more
are lying in hiding. No more ever appear
unless they are needed. On the route from
San Andreas to Ell Dorado my stage was
held up one night and over $4,000 taken.
One man stood at the horses heads and
called out Say, Rich, you're little late to-
nightp Yes, 1 answered, hurry up, for I
want to reach the next station.
A SOOlJ hOAD
''The man wore plain black mask. His
side face was toward me, and a little later,
when he coughed, the mask flew out and
by the light of the bullseye lantern on the
coach could recognize him. The next day
1 met him in the Office of Wells, Fargo &
Co., at San Andreas, reading an offer of 81, 900
reward for each of the road agents. Of
course, I did not say anything. wanted to
live awhile longer, and if had told what
knew I would have been picked off by
bullet the very next time 1 mounted my
coach. Drivers never dared to tell what
they knew and don't believe any of them
stood in with the road agents. But the
sequel is that last year when was in Cali
fornia 1 met this same road agent living in
fine style in Lodi. He, of course, knew me
and invited me to dinner. 1 did not tell
him what 1 knew of his past, but Just as
the train was pulling out the temptation
grew too strong and 1 repeated the CONVEX
sation in the gorge on the night of the rob-
berry. I could see the man turn both pale
and red.
DRUMMERS NOT DESIRABLE.
"Another experience was with two fresh
drummers who were aching to shoot road
agents, and carried their guns in their
hands. I was always afraid when I had
such passengers, for someone was pretty
sure to be killed, and 1 never yet heard of
it being one of the road agents. Well, we
were coming down a deep gully It was
one of those lonesome places where passen-
gers hold their breaths. I could make out
the dim outline of man with a gun and
promptly slowed up.
II thought myself it was case of hold
up, but it proved to be only miner who
wanted to board the stage. Then 1 looked
around for the fire-eaters, but they had
dropped off the back of the stage and dis
There was no time to wait, so I
drove on. While changing horses at the
next station the Wells-Fargo guard dashed
up and wanted to know where the wounded
were They said the drummers had rushed
back to San Andreas and told story of all
the passengers having been shot but them
selves"