The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-12
GOT AWAY WITH $4,000
Two Men Hold Up an Express Wagon
Near Cripple Greek.
TWAS MONEY FOR THE MINER
The 'tiishwaymen Go About Their
Work In Earnest. Clubbing the
Driver Into lnsensibility-
BIoodhounds In Use.


times from Cripple Creek, Col, says: The
mail and express wagon which connects
with the Midland Terminal railroad at
Grassy, was robbed to-day about two miles
from this city by two men, who overpow-
cred the driver, Robert Smith, secured an
express package containing $4,000 and
escaped on horseback. The holdup took
place about $50 o'clock on tho summit of
Tenderfoot Hill, on the highway between
Cripple Creek and Grassy, . sation on the
Midland Terminal railroad. The mail
and express wagon, drawn by four horses
driven by Messenger Robert Smith, was
en- route from Grassy to Cripple Creek
with mail aud express matter received ut
Grassy on the morning train from Denver
and Colorado Springs:
Two men sitting beside the road ac-
costed Smith, asking for ride. He drew
up the team and one OF the men climbed
to the seat beside him, while the other
mounted the baggage behind. AS soon
az 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 the seat with
him also drew revolver and levelled IL
ut him, commanding him to get down,
walk to the heads of the horses and hold
their brides. He complied, as he was
covered with the gun.
They ripped open and rifled the mail
and express pouches. After securing $l6,-
| 600, which was being shipped to one of the
Cripple Creek national banks, and several
other valuable packages they unhitched
| the two leading horses, mounted them and
rode of rapidly into the mountains.
| Smith, who was very weak and bleeding
- H.. nss. LII Ia,
as possible. When he drew up in front OF
| fell from his seat.
| Smith was revived in 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 started to scour the
hills in search Of tue robbers, who have SO
small start that II Is believed that they
cannot escape. A messenger has been
| sent to Canon City for n bloodhound
which will be put on the trail of tho rob
bers IL they are not captured before II ar
2he ,000 package secured by the rob
bers was a consignment from Denver b,
the Wells, Fargo express. IL has not yei
been ascertained by whom shipped, but
| IL Is believed to have been forwarded from
| the First National bank OF Denver to the
First National of this city. Another pack
age containing $3.50 is also missing. II |,
believed the robbers came from Denver
and knew the large money pa ckage wal
n.the wagon.
NIT has been learned that tho
SIC, 900 package was a consignment to the
Bimetallic bank to be used in paying ths
| miners. The robbers crossed over Gov
mountain, and near Gillette discarded the
stolen horses, took q horse and liqh
buggy they had secreted in the timber ant
drove away toward Alhambra. As soor
as the course was determined word wal
sent to this place and 80 heavily armet
men cut across the country on horsebacl
toward High Park. where they hoped &c
intercept the robbers. Over 500 men arr
securing tho country. many OF who n
know every inch of the ground.
Superintendent Stubbs of the Wells
Fargo Express company went to Cripple
Creek tonight. He had received but I
meager report of the robbery before his
departure. as the Cripple Creek agen
went with the officers in pursuit of th'
robbers. Stubbs said he did not know
how much money there was in the treas
ure box, but thought the sum reported
from the camp as stolen was exaggerated
CRIPPLE CREEK. Colo, April 1l.-Drive
Robert Smith has three bad scalp wound
and Is very weak from loss of blood. HI
was not able to give q good description
OF tho robbers.