The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-12
EXPRESS WAGON LOOTED.
The Driver Gives a Ride to Two
Men Who Hold Him Up
by Force.
PISTOLS ARE THEIR WEAPONS.
Hundreds of Pursuers and a Blood
hound After the Daring
Desperadoes.

CRIPPLE CREEK, CoLo April 1.-THE
mail and express wagon which connects
with the Midland Terminal Railroad at
Grassy was boarded to-day about two miles
from this city by two men, who overpow-
cred the driver, Robert Smith, secured an
express package containing SIC, 900, and es-
capped on horseback.
The hold-up took place about $50 o'clock
on the summit of Tenderfoot Hill, on the
highway between Cripple Creek and
Grassy, station on the Midland Terminal
road. The mail and express wagon was
drawn by horses, driven by Messenger
Robert Smith, who was en- route from
Grassy to Cripple Creek with mails and ex-
press matter received at Grassy on the
morning train from Denver and Colorado
Springs.
Two men sitting beside the road &C
costed Smith, asking for ride. He drew
up the team and one of the men climbed
up to the seat beside him, while the other
mounted the baggage behind. As soon as
Smith started 10 drive on the man behind
struck him on the head several times with
a revolver. The blows staggered but did
stun him. The man on the seat with him
commanding him to get down, walk to the
heads of the horses and hold their brides.
He complied, and while he was covered
with guns they ripped open and rified the
mail and express pouches.
After securing SIC, 600, which was being
shipped to one OF the Cripple Greek ma
tional banks and several other valuable
packages, they unhitched the two leading
horses, mounted them and rode off rapidly
into the mountains. Smith, who was very
week and bleeding profusely, drove into
the city as quickly as possible, When he
drew up in front of Wells-Fargo's express
Office he tainted and fell from his seat.
Smith was revived in q few minutes and
related what had befallen him. Within
twenty minutes from the time the robbery
was committed Deputy Sheriffs Sterling
and Jackson and 200 men started to scour
the hills in search Of the robbers, who have
so small a start that it is not believed they
can escape.
4 message has been sent to Canyon City
for bloodhound, which will be put on the
trail of the robbers if they are not cap
tured before it arrives.
It has been learned that the SIC, 600 pack
age was consignment TO the Bimetallic
Bank, to be used in paying miners. The
robbers crossed over Cow Mountain, and
near Gillette discarded the stolen horses
and took 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 fifty heav-
lily armed men cut across the country on
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 a good
description of the robbers, but they were
seen alongside the road shortly before the
robbery by Ed Hull of the Grand Transfer
Company, who describes them as follows:
One was feet inches in height, weighing
about 155 pounds, and wore dark derby
hat and a dark brown overcoat. The
other was about feet inches in height,
weighing about las pounds, with brown
mustache and wore blue overalls and a
white soft hat.
DENVER, Colo, April III. L. Stubs
OF the Wells-Fargo Express Company went
to Cripple Creek tonight. He had received
but meager account of the robbery be-
fore his departure, as the Cripple Greek
agent went with the officers in pursuit of the
robbers. Mr.. Stubbs said he did not know
how much money there was in the treas
ure-box of the robbed wagon, but he
thought the sum reported from the camp
az stolen was eTapperate6