Arizona republican., 1894-09-12
HALT! LINE UP! Robbery of the Prescott
 and Phoenix Stage By Two Masked Men Near Congress Mine. A Story of the Hold-Up by an
 Interested Witness.
Six Prominent Gentlemen Trans formed Into a Spelling Class
 and DespoiIed of $35O.

The south bound Prescott and Phe- nix stage, Andy McGinnis, driver, was held up about half past eight night be- fore last two miles this side of Congress mine by two masked men. The robbers secured three gold watches and about $75 in cash. There were six passengers on the stage, Hon. A. J. Doran of Flor ence; c. M. Funston, editor of the Co conino Sun at Flagstaff; J. c. Martin, editor of the Prescott Journal-Miner; Dr. G. ". Vickers of Prescott; Carl Holtzschue, clerk at the mining com pany's store. and young man named George Parks. The four former gentle men were on their way to the Repub- lican territorial convention at Tucson, Messrs. Funston, Martin and Dr. Vickers being delegates.
 The plundered stage reached Phoenix yesterday forenoon and though regret ful of the loss of valuables and cash the passengers seemed to regard the affair as pleasant diversion from the ! ordinary discomforts of 8 trip from Prescott.
 MT. Funston, a newspaper man whose professional habits of observation were quickened by personal interest in the matter, thus describes the robbery: ''We left Congress" said he, ''about eight o'clock. Near the top of draw two miles this side, just as we were climbing upon the mesa, the driver heard command to halt. It did not occur to us that 1t was a con- robbers. The men were evidently con at the road side and we did not see them. The stage passed them perhaps thirty or forty feet before the driver could bring the horses to a stand still. | When the men came near enough for us to see that they were masked we knew it was to be hold up but it was now too late to start up the stage again.
 "They ordered us out and we obeyed with alacrity. Wewere lined up at the roadside like boys in spelling class. 1 was at one end and MT. Martin, think at the other. At first the robbers did not search us but requested us to hand over our cash and valuables. Those of us who had onr money separated began to divide it with the bobbers but were careful not to give them too much. This system of voluntary contributions was not satisfactory to the highwaymen so they began a search, one commenc ing at each end of the line.
 ''They got three gold watches and about $75 in cash distri buted as follows From Mir. Doran gold watch, chain and charm worth $225 and $20 in cash from Mr. Martin silver watch and small amount of money; from Mir. Holtzschue $11; from Dr. Vickers 1.10; from me $10; from MT. Park a gold watch and some cash. We estimated our joint loss at about $350. Dr. Wick CTS managed to conceal gold watch and $200 and MT. Holtzschue success fully hid $14l in bills. None of us were left penniless by the robbery. When begged the robber as special favor to be permitted to keep it he did not in- sist so have it yet.
 "The men seemed very nervous toward the end of the affair. They or dered us back into the stage and this order was even more cheerfully obeved than the previous order to dismount. | As soon as we started the robbers emp tied their revolvers presumably for the purpose of facilitating our depart ure but that wasn't necessary.
 ''The robbers were both Americans. | They wore gunnysacks over thelr faces and the mask of one of them came off during the robbery. As well as we could judge Tn the moonlight he was | man of middle age, about six feet in height. His whiskers were slightly l gray. The other seemed to be young man. He was about five feet ten, well | built and used good language. They were evidently novices in the business. The job was managed in bungling manner but then it was success, any how. The up stage was warned ny us so 1 don't think an attempt was made | to hold it up."
 One gentleman being asked what time the robbery happened said, "I don't know exactly; the last time I looked at my watch it was $40; Eve never looked at it since." Another member of the party in reply to a question concerning the size of the men said, ''I don't | know but they were not as big as their guns seemed to be-"
 The robbers in general way answer the description of the men who held up Hinton's store at Alhambra week ago.
 An incident of the affair worth men, tioning IS that with the exception of one person, young man from the east, all the passengers were old Arizonians. The only weapon in the crowd was a g calibre revolver owned by the tender foot. At Congress Mine the other pas sengers objected to his carrying the toy upon his person. They told him that while it was entirely harmless and in-