The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-19

whole twenty-aine In line like soldiers on
parade. only there was DO attempt TO dress
ranks for | noticed a small cigar-drummer
fianked on one side by tall miner AID on
the other by a fat merchant. BE afterwa ard
declared that he felt himself to be the big
gest man in the crowd, and knew that sew
erai OF the guns were aimed directly at him.
Two Of the robbers stationed themselves
where they could rake the whole line with
their shots, while two more relieved the
passengers Of their valuables. One man
carried baTley-sack. while a nimble-fn-
gered brigand robbed the passengers and
threw watches, money. rings and other
jewerY into the sack. Even the cigars and
whisky were taken, though the boys
kicked against this outrage. The lat
man ATTEMPTED TO rest his hands for a
moment but al the command Of up hands,
fatty" he had 10 raise them again though It
made him groan and sweat to do II. 'Plle
IN and be eff now" shouted the captain
when the light-hngered chap reached the
last man, and a nader lot of fellows never
boarded a coach, for money, whisky. cigars
and even their pistols had been taken.
Turn EN- loose, young man." yelled the
captain. and the robbers in front spTang
back out of reach and gave my horses free
road. Had there been a weapon In the
crowd we would have given them a parting
shot, but as It was we could only make time
10 tile next station. The horses went on a
dead run, and half an hour afterward 4
dozen men started In pursuit Of the read
agents. / hired man To drive and helped
try to catch the thieves. We got near them
once and had lively skirmish. killing TWO
robbers and wounding a third, but the rest
got away with the treasure.
never lost ny nerve but once. then my
heart was in nv mouth for two or three
minutes. We were descending the Devils
.......-...........: Incline, a long, straight
The Broken 1aoSaroats tlord
R,ake two Of them ladies oc-
cupying outside seats.
----'''''''-'---.''.-''' One OF the ladies' sat
behind me; the other handsome
young married lady. was between
her husband and me. When within a
quarter OF a mile from the bottom OF the hill
my brake broke and | knew that within
second the big coach, with its load of pas
sengers. would dash forward upon the horses
The team was In swinging trot and legs,
arms and possibly necks would be broken il
the passengers should attempt 10 Jump off,
as they would be certain To il | gave them
warning oil their danger. There was not an
instant to lose, so | grasDed my whip,
shouted to my leaders and cried, Here is
where we make time" and down the long
smooth hill wo went on a run. If a horse
should stumble or fall il meant death 10
more than one passenger on board: but
fortunately the road was smooth and the
animals kept their feet. / piled the lash and
again shouted 10 my leaders as the big
coach began 10 gain upon them. The pas
sengers grew frightened as the vehicle
Ieeled and rocked under the Tremendous
speed. Several cried. stop! stopi" but
this was just what i could not do The
young husband believed me insane for the
moment and drawing a pistol cried Now
hold up or by heaven | will put a bullet
through your heart" Instead Of ATTEMPT
ing 10 comply ! again dashed my team. for
in moment or two the danger would be
over. The young man sternly repeated his
threat, but Just then his wife struck the
pistol and knocked it out of his hand.
With wild yell Al the team. which made
them all spring forward out OF the reach of
the mighty wheels, We dashed out upon the
plain at the foot OF the hill, and [ soon was
in position TO pull uD and explain our
danger. The young married woman, who
had been quite cool up 10 that second.
tainted dead away and came near falling
from tile seat. On reaching the end of our
journey the passengers dubbed together
and bought me handsome gold watch but
i can assure you that would not take that
ride again for al the watches on earth
This was located On the edge Of a level
valley ten or twelve miles across which had
once beea an alkali lake. and the surface
was as hard, smooth ......................
ana lever as moor. IT, p,,
At this station one Inc breaking-in
year large number OF S,.,;
wild horses were kept
TO be broken TO har- '.'...-'................,.
ness. A number Of Mexican vaoueros har-
messed and htehed them Up, and a wilder
OF more vicious set OF beasts never saw
Each one bad to be blindfoIded To he
handled, and sometimes il took two men to
each horse to get the harness upon him
and get him hitched TO the coach. They
would kick. strike and bite the moment the
blind was removed, but once secured to the
coach they would dash off after nv leaders
until they were run down. I drove eight
horses, including two quick and speedy
leaders and two spirited wheelers: the
other four were wild animals bitched mn
fer the first or second time. When all were
ready 1 would give a shout the yaoueros
would snatch of the blinds, the leaders would
spring forward and the whole team weuid
break into run. the widest aud most ex-
citing load OF passengers ever eni1yed.
This would last most of the way aeross the
valley, aud when the next station was
reached the four wild animals were COM
plately run down. Two such trips and thew
were considered broken and would be sent
to other stations.
One trip we had new driver who was
gong up the road to take position. He
was q handsome young fellow WIN from
:..................-.-.. his curling hair. was
The N.nv called Curly Bill. He
was askiiiful reinsman,
Driver. but was cool and eau
tious and took no des-
perate chances, as sumo
Of the drivers did. On reaching the break
ing-in station we thought we would have a
little fun at bis expense. so | asked him to
take the ribbons. He never finehed. but
gathered up the lines, shouted to turn then