The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-08
PASSENGERS LINED UP.
Relieved of Money and WaIua-
bIeS to the Amount
of $1,000.
PUMMELED FOR RESISTING.
A Plucky Chlnaman Brutally
Beaten for Attempting to
Save His Gold.

NAPA, CAL, May THE stage running
rom Calistoga to Lakeport was held up
near Mirabel this afternoon and the pas
sengers robbed of money and valuables ag-
gregating $1,000.
The stage had reached point one and
half miles from Mirabel when two masked
men stepped from the bushes lining the
road and ordered Driver Al Palmer to halt.
Keeping their nistols pointed at Palmers
head they made him throw down the ex-
press-box. While one of the highwaymen
kept driver and passengers covered the
other broke open the box, but found no
money.
The passengers were then ordered to
| leave the stage and form in line at the side
of the road, and obeyed with alacity.
There were on the stage, besides Driver
Palmer, E. ]. Lynch of the Judson Powder
Company, H. J. Gerdes and c. II. Goetjen,
all of San Francisco, and boy whose
name is not known and Chinaman.
They were kept covered by one of
the robbers while the other searched their
| pockets. Lynch was relieved OF a $500
watch and $75 in coin, Gerdes of a watch
and purse, Goetien of watch. Goetien
managed to save his money by dropping it
| QOWn Jne INSIDE OF MS trousers.
The Chinaman was the only one that
showed fight. He objected to their taking
his handbook, and received a brutal
pounding for his trouble.
The robbers secured from the stage a
| shotgun and valise. The plunder was
put in the valise. Lynch objected to giving
up his watch, but the robbers thrust re-
volver under his nose and he quieted down.
While the robbers were engaged in
going through the passengers two teams
drove up and were stopped, and their
! drivers, Byrd Hunt and man named
Van Bibber, made to get down. The rob-
bers were apparently acquainted with the
drivers of the teams, for they called them
by name and inquired after their health.
After finishing the loot of the stage the
robbers ordered the teams to drive on to
Middletown, and they took an opposite
direction. They were seen about two hours
later passing through Adolph sutro's
| place, and were moving on foot in the di-
rection of Oak Hill, Napa County.
| When the stage arrived at Middletown
/ Lake and Napa county officers were noti-
| fed, and posses Immediately started from
| Calistoga and Middletown in pursuit. The
| passengers describe one of the highway
men as man about feet IL inches in
height; the other about feet inches
tall. Both wore long ulsters, old shoes
and masks. Their garb was hidden by the
ulsters. One had light mustache. The
tall man showed himself the cooler of the
two, his companion being perceptibly
nervous. Each man was armed with
brace of large revolvers.
Insurance Rate Var Bretcing.
! NAPA, CAL, May Am insurance rate
war has been brewing here for some days
past, but the local agents had combined
and agreed to all make the same rates.
The nominal rate fixed was 80 per cent of
the old rate, but some of the agents began
| to offer little side inducements for business,
and while this has not yet led to open war,
very low rates are being made. AS high as
so per cent discount on old rates has been
given here to-day; it now looks as though
open cuts would follow, and agents say
that when that time comes insurance will
be taken at a low figure.