New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-16
KILLED BY HIGHWAYMEN.
BOLD ATTACK ON A STAGE ON A CALIFORNIA
MOUNTAIN ROAD.
4 BRAVE MESSENGER SLAIN AND TIE WILLS
FARGO EXPRESS COMPANY ROBBED OF
10000 IN GOLD BuLNoN-oNE OF
THE ROBBERS CAUGHT.

$4,000 IN GOLD BULMON-ONE OF
THE ROBBERS CAUGHT
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE yKIBUSE.I
San Francisco. May l5.-The robbery OF 'h'l
BEDDING and Weaverville stage last night, BY
which Wells, Fargo's Express Company lost S?o'-
600 in bullion and ono of their best shotgun
messengers" was noteworthy crime even ior
California mountain road. because it follows TWO
similar crimes committed within two weeks.
The scene of the latest robbery was the old stage
road which climbs over the mountain divide be-
tween Reddinr the county seat of Shasta, ana
Weaverville in Trinity County. II has always
been selected by the stage robbers because the
Wild broken country, thinly settled gives any
fugitive familiar with the forest trails an ex-
cellent opportunity 10 escape. 1T has witnessed
moro than n score of robberies within five years.
and IL was the favorite stamping ground OF
Black Bart the lone highwayman who dehcd
all efforts to catch him for nearly ten years, but
was frs.V captured by the laundry mark on
his cuff, which he careessly left by the side OF
q broken and rhed trcasure-bOx. In most OF the
recent robbcrieS on this road the booty secured
was small, and these occasions no messenger
WAS on hand Such was the case last Tuesday
when two masked men stopped this same stage
and obtained only few hundred dollars. Yes
Montgomery, was detailed TO accompany the
stage as the treasure boxes contained S2o,ooo
in gold bullion lie was the back seat ih-
side of the stage. having given his place next 10
the driver to a passcngerI named Suhr Johh
Boyce, an old driver, was on the ooX
The stage had Just reached the top of long
hill when the driver was ordered 10 halt ana 'he
passenger to throw out the two treasurc-ooNes'
The man who gave the order wore
a red silk mask over his lace and had his shotgun
levelled Oh the two men. Both commands were
Immediately compile with. Buck Montgomery
seized his gum brought it quickly TO position ana
fred at the robbcr, who stood in plain view ana
at close range. At almost the same instant, ana
like echoes two reports followed the discharge OF
MontComery's weapon. One was caused by the
robber who had halted the stage aud at whom
the messenger had fired. shooting at the driver,
Boyce, and the other By q weapon which had been
aimed at MONTGOMERY by the robbers conieder-
ate. who was hidden in the bush. Montgomery
wounded his man, but evidently not seriously,
though the wound brought him to his knees.
Not daunted by this fact. the robbcr succeeded,
as above stated. in firing at the driver and scri-
ouslv wounding him and George Suhr, who was
on the seat with Boycc
The brave MESSENGERS action, however, not only
failed to save the express cor,panys treasure bat
brought him lis death. The shot fired at him
struck him in the abdomen, causing his death about
Two hours later. He also wounLed by several
other shots Immediately the robbers disoppea.ei
in the brush with their booty Meanwhile the
team, frightened by the shooting. started TO run
away, but the rens were seized by Subr, who haa
received three buckshot in one leg below tue
knee
News of the robbery was carried to Reddlng
by the wife of DIR. Stevenson, Who
left her husband to attend the wounded men
and drove at full gallop along the dark road five
niles TO Redding. Montgomery died of his wounds
d few minutes after his wife and two children
reached his bedside. He was one of the express
best messengers being dead shot and
absolutely fearless.
Hundreds of men were soon securing the WOODS
in the pouring rain, searching for the fugitives
but though they were tracked some distance the
darkness of the night and the heavy rain pre-
vented successful search. The Sheriff tracked
the robbers to q gIlch and about 300 yards
down at the bottom of sharp ravine he found
the boxes broken open, near the mouth oil
an old prospect tunnel lie tracked boodstains
from where the boxes were taken in the road to
tie gulch. In the gulch he found
mask made out of large red
calico handkerchief The mask indicates that
Montgomery was uncrring in his aim and shot To
kill 1t contains five bullet-holcs showing that
four shots took effect in the robbers face, one
On one corner of the right eye, one on Il corner
OF the upper lip and one in the breast. lherc
was IL pool Of blood where the boxes lay III
the road and also where they lay biokcn
open in the gulch. The trail OF the two
fuaitives was followed for some distance to the
place where they separated.
From the descriptions 1t seems they are
tie samc n.en who committed tuesdays robbery
a third robbery. which occurred two weeks ago
in Caayeras County, is yet unpunishcd. a lone
lighwaynan fired upon the stage near
wounding the driver. He secured ~
treasure, and the express company
tempt to kill their messenger who ESCAPED almost
BY miracle, his clothes and hat were riddlcd
with buckshot. The fact that the men who tricl
TO rob three trains in the San Joaquin Valley, as
within nine months, have escaped, has probably
led to these recent bold crimes on the Highway.
The wounded highwayman was captured this
afternoon in canon only few miles from the
Of the robbery. He sail his associate robbed
and then deserted him, telling him hc was sure
to die The injure drobber was taken to Red
ding in hay wagon An attempt
vas made to lynch him as he
was taken into the Jail, bnt it was foilcd by a
strong guard. He presented terrible appearance
Three teeth were gone: ten buckshot altogether en-
tered his face and body. lie gave the name OF
George Shaw, but he is known under several
aliases, AMI was a shiftlcss fellow who did odd iobs
around the town. lie is sure 10 die and cannot
last many hours.
DOUBLING THE ESCORT OF A PAYMnsrFp
Phoenix. Ariz, MAY IA dispatch from GIh, rcod
says attempt TO hold up" the paymastcr,s woy,p
belonging 10 the Arizona Construction Comn,nv w,s
frustrated last night. The company has 600 men ot
work nt dam and reservoir on the Giln River. and
they are paid of the 18th OF each month No,.v
for this purpose Is shipped ella Bend by Wells.
fQrgo. and from there transported 10 IN. d,,s,,o