Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-06-09
HELD UP.
The Billings Coach Robbed Twice Last Week
by H~ighwaymen.

The ARGUS received a message from H.R
Watson on Thursday evening Of last week
stating that the coach on which he and his
mother we're aboard en- route east was held
up by road agents.
From the message and the acroHnt sent
the Helena papers from Billings. it appears
the hold-up occurred on Painted Robe hill
nine miles south al Lavina. at 800 in the
morning. III the I'd inst. Their. were three
IL the rohi,ers. Two wearing masks stood
in TIA" brush, while the third approached
the coach and demanded the mail sacks
aud treasure boN, which were promptly
thrown ont. Alter shooting one 81 the
stage horses for the purpose ii della wing tn,
coach, the robbers dragged the box ami
sacks into the brush. With the aid of Wat
son and the driver, the Fair View horse
ranch, some ten or eleven miles distant.
was reached, wher. another horse was pro
cured and the coach proceeded to Billings
arriving there at 100 in the evening. \
posse with Under-Sheriff Ramsey at the
head left at once for the scene of the rob-
berry.
The passengers were nut molested and
very little money secured from the mail
sacks. The treasure box was empty. Tn,
through mail pouches contained several
hundred dullar in checks and drafts which
could be al no use To the robbers.
On the following morning the coach going
south was held up in sight nf Layina, in
this county. Only the way pouch WAS taken
this time. John Mc'nnrt. who wasdnwnat
| l.. Niu. IN Iusiua4= ..v tho coach, "A I,..n "a
WAS stopped oh the hill this side "l The sta
ton. 1he driver WAS ordered la throw ont
the mail sacks. But as hr VAS On the grade
'f The hill aud unable Ia control the team
he told them he could not io So. The rob.
beers then helped Themselves to- what they
roul1 get, but overlooked the through
pouch. The way-pockct, IN which the dri-
yer was sitting. WAS said Ia contain $3.50.
\ deputy officer pursued the robbers aud
was within four hundred yards Of them
when they were opening the ~lrtt"rs. but he
ing alone he turned back and rode rapidly
int" Lavina after securing the mail sack.
Had any one at Iaviua offered to assist
him the robbers could have been captured
without difficulty.
Every one coming in from Lavina speak
in anything but complimentary terms of
the men at that point. They offered no as
sistance to Under. Sheriff Ramsey and he
found il impossible to obtain fresh horses.
Such remarks as II have lost no mail
could lie heard. There * a tough gang
around the place whom some think are
none too good To stand in with the hold
ups that have occurred. Had these rob
hcrics taken place at any other point in the
county "a posse al citizrns would nave been
uu the trail ia less than an hour. \ reward
III 5000 each fur the robbers is offered, aud
il The same parties were engaged in both
ruhbcrie9 the amount il doubled, making
81, oonin all. This should bc some induce
mcut in making the rapture.
The ruhb"r chief is described as being
short and slender and has brown eyes.
He wore a cHuVHS coat.
William Watkins, Jr., and c. l.. Way
land, postnilice inspectors, arrived from
Helena Monday evening, Ia engage in the
search for the robbers, and il is sale to say
the government will not lei up until they
are all behind the bars.