The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-05-16
Captured.


REDDING, May I5.-At o'clock last
evening two masked men fired into the
Redding and Shasta stage while it was
coming up a long grade five miles above
this place, fatally wounding Wells Fargo
Messenger Buck Montgomery, and secur-
ing the treasure-boX, which is believed TO
have contained III the neighborhoOd Of
$4,000. The driver and a passenger were
also slightly injured. 1t is thought that
the highwaymou were the same men who
stopped the stage en- last Tuesday and Sc
cured so little for their work.
AS the stage reached the top of the
grade two men suddenly appeared from
clump Of bushes beside the road. Both
We're masked with red handana handker-
chief and were armed, one with a shot
gun and the other with rifle. John
Boyce was driving, with man named
George Suhr ON the box beside him.
Buck Montgomery, the messenger, was
on the back seat inside.
The man armed with the shotgun or
derCd the stage TO be stopped and the
passenger on the box to throw up his
hands
He then ordered the treasure-box to be
thrown out. The driver complied. About
this time the messenger inside got a bead
on the highwayman and blaZed away
The highWayman dropped TO his knees,
and simultaneously with his partner hid
in the brush, the fire was returned, and
the messenger was shot in the navel and
several more bullets lodged in the seat
The passenger received three buckshot in
the calf of the right leg and the driver got
five buckShOt near the right knee
The robbers then disappeared with the
boxes. The team started to run, but
George Suhr grabbed the lines. DR.. Stey-
enson and wife. who were going to Shasta,
met the stage. Stevenson says that the
passenger was kneeling down in the boot
driving, while the stage driver was oper-
ating the brakes. The messenger was in
side on the floor lying in pool of his own
blood. Stevenson took charge OF the
team and drove two miles to Middle
Greek, while his wife drove to Redding
for DR.. Lawry.
Your reporter visited the scene and
found Montgomery in a dying condition
at the hotel at Middle Creek, with his
wife Wringing her hands and nearly
crazed by the tragedy. The driver was
resting easily. and George Suhr was
walking around apparently unhurt. The
W ellS-fargo boxes are supposed to have
contained rich treasure, some placing the
estimate as high as $780, 900.
The messenger died about o'clock
Members Of Company f went out to
search fer the robbers, and by some mis-
take young soldier named George
HOlSewOrth was shot through the fleshv
part Of his shoulder and right arm. Sew
eral shots were fired at him, but one only
took effect. Deputy Sheriff Local being
IN the vicinity, went to the fellow and
helped him home. His wound is not
serious.
Intense excitement prevails over the
robbery, and crowds are securing the
woods in search Of the fiendS, against
whom dire vengeance is threatened if they
are caught. the messenger was very
popular. His body mas been brought to
Redding and will be shipped to Ukiah to-
morrow night. The scene where the rob-
berry was committed was in a wild spot
surrounded by steep mountains and deep
ravineS, and being very brushy afforded
a secure hiding-place for the highway
men.
The posse tracked the robbers until they
found one Of the express boxes, which
was broken open and covered with blood
By the aid OF the blood tracking would be
easy out for the darkness. Guards
armed with muSketS are patroling the
woods.
The robber who ordered the halt is de-
scribed as large, heavy man. An old
convict was in town last week, and it is
thought that it is his work. The stage
bears evidence OF bloody work, being
riddied with buckshOt and bullets, with
blood on the cushions.
There are several rich mines in French
Gulch, and it is thought that the shipment
OF bullion was large. These facts were
evidently understood by the highway
men: and they resolved to take desperate
chances.
Dozens Of wagons and carriages loaded
with people visited the scene OF the rob-
berry, and even boys, armed with shot
guns, took to the woods in search OF the
road agents. EXAssemblyman Shana-
han got SO excited that he, too. took 10 the
woods with his Winchester Blood
hounds have been sent for TO assist in
tracking.