Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-04-19
.EXPRESSMAN ROBBED
Gold in Transit to Cripple Creek
Was Stolen.
MESSENGER BADLY BEATEN
teen Thousand Dollars the Amount
Secured-Huudreds of Armed
Men in Pursuit.

Denver April ia special to the
Times from Cripple Creek, Colo, says:
The mail and express wagon which
connects With the Midland Terminal
road at Grassy was robbed today about
two miles from this city by two men
who overpowered the driver, Robert
Smith, and secured an express package
containing $4,000. and escaped on horse
back. The holdup took place about $3.50
on the summit of Tenderfoot hill on the
highway between Cripple Creek and
Grassy Station, on the Midland Termi-
nal railroad.
The mail and express wagon was
driven by Messenger Robert Smith, and
was enroute from Grassy to Cripple
Creek with mails and express matter re-
ceived at Grassy on the morning train
from Denver and Colorado Springs.
Two men sitting beside the road ac-
coseted Smith, asking for a ride. He
drew up his team and one of the men
climbed up to the seat behind him.
while the other mounted the baggage
behind. AS soon as Smith started to
drive the man behind struck him on the
head several times with a revolver.
The blows staggered, but did not stun
him. The man on tie seat with him also
drew revolver and leveled it at him,
commanding him TO get down and walk
to the heads of the horses and hold
their brides. He complied and was
covered with guns. They ripped open
| and rified the mail and express pouches.
After securing $4,000, which was being
| shipped to one of the Cripple Creek ma
tional banks, they unhitched the two
leading horses. mounted them and rode
off ya1 III Int he tot,
who was very weak and bleeding pro-
fusely drove into the city as quickly as
possible. When he drew up in front of
the Wells-Fargo Express office he faint
! ed and fell from his seat
POSSES IN PURSUIT.
Smith was revived in a few minutes
| and related what had befallen him.
| Within 20 minutes from the time the
robbery was committed Deputy Sheriffs
| Sterling and Jackson and 200 men start
! ed to scour the hills in search of the
| robbers, who so far have such a small
| start that it is not believed they can
escape. A message has been sent to
| Canon City for bloodhounds, which will
| be put on the trail of the robbers if they
| are not captured before they arrive.
The $4,000 package secured by the rob-
| bers was consigned from Denver by the
! Wells-Fargo Express. A package con-
| tanning $3.50 is also missing. 1t is be-
! lieved that the robbers came from Den
yer and knew a large money package
was in the wagon.
/ 1t has been learned that the Sic, 00C
| package was consigned to the Bimetal-
| lie bank, to be used TO pay the miners
The robbers crossed over Cow mount
| ain and near Gillette discarded the
stolen horses, took a horse and light
| buggy they had secreted in the timber
and drove away toward Alhambra AS
soon as the course was determined word
was sent to this place and so heavily
armed men cut across the country or
| horseback toward High Park, where
| they hope to intercept the robbers. Over
500 men are securing the country, many
of whom know every inch of the ground
Driver Robert Smith has three bad
scalp wounds and is very weak from
loss of blood. He was not able to give 6
good description of the robbers.
MAY BE EXAGGERATED
Denver. April IL. = Superintendent
Stubs of the Wells-Fargo Express
Company went to Cripple Creek tonight
He had received but meager repor
of the robbery. as the Cripple Creel
agent went with the officers in pursui
OF the robbers. Stubs said he did no
know how much money there was II
the treasure box, but thought the sun
reported from the camp as stolen wa:
exaggerated.