The morning times., 1896-09-13
STAGE DAYS IN THE WEST
Bill Henderson on Incidents
Near San Diego.
TWENTY-NINE IN LINE
The Wild Ride Down the Incline
and How the Opposition
Was Beaten.

In the good old days when the numbering
stage coach was the only means or trans
| por,ation across the sandy plains and ranges
| OF Southern California more exciting Incl
dents In the way OF hold ups aud wild rides
down fearful inciiues took place than his
tory las ever recorded Among the drivers
whose fame is more than local is Bill Hen
| dersou, one OF the boys who held the rlbbohs
| over a icam of eight on the Los Angeles,
Santa Ana and San Diego line. Henderson
drove Il stage over that line for twenty one
years. He was one of the first men 10 as
cend TO the drivers perch and one OF Tire las.
to drop the reins because more rapid ana
safer means of transportation had super
seded the coach. The railroads have forced
the old man into refinement, but they have
not stopped the motion Of his tongue nor the
keenness OF his memory. He tells many III
cidents of his career as driver, solne OF
which have not yet crept into print Among
the stories which Uncle Bill tells are the
following:
.One bright, sunny morning, in early
autumn about 1873, said he, 1 had Dig
load or passengers-and happier, more
ioyial and better-natured crowd never
had on board Those were reckless, don't
care days, when Los Angeles was sleepy
old Mexican town. Songs, Jokes and
stories enlivened the way, and several
pocket TASKS Of mountain dew made each
forsetfuI OF danger. Near Capstrano val
lev we reached a grade and the eight
horses settled into a walk for the first
time since leaving the station. We had
almost reached the summit when two rob-
bers sprang into the rUad from fringe III
bushes in front Of my leaders and yelled
.Stop,' in "a manner that caused each pas
senger to spring bdlt upright and grab his
pistols.
..Al the same instant, however, four ad-
duional high wa ymen, all well armed. sprang
out Of the underbrush and poked their guns
into our very eyes, crying in unmistakapc
tones, Come Off the perch!
you've got the drop on us, boys, said
|, auehingly, Tor he had no chance to
either fight or run
Yes, nd we ar. going TO keep it, re-
Piled the leader of the gang; you hoid
those lines and keep your jaws, shut and
You won't tie bothered OFF the perch
was repeated. and the way these passe.-
gers hustled off the top Of the coach was
Cumcal. but they saw nothing amusing
about 1t. In moment the highwa ymen
had the whole twenty-nine III line like
soldiers on parade. only there was no at
tempt To dress ranks, for | noticed small
cigar drummer, flanked on one side by tail
miner and on the other 10y a fat merchant.
He aftcrward delared that he felt himself
to be the biggest man in the 0rowd and
knew that several or the guns were aimed
directly at him Two of the robbers sta
toned themselves where they could rake
the whole line with their shots, while two
more relieved the passengers Of their vain-
ables
..Une man carried a barley sack, while
ninible-fingercd brigand robbed the pas
sengers and threw watches, money, rings
and other jewelry into tie sack. Even the
cigars and whisky were taken, though the
hoys kicked against this outrage The fat
man attempted to rest his hands for mo
ment. but at the Command OF Up hands,
fatty he had to raise them again. though
il made him groan and sweat to do it, Pile
In and he Off, now,' shouted the captain
when the light fingered chap reached the
la ST man and a madder lot Of fellows never
toa artied a coach, for m oncy, whisky, ciga RS
and even their pistols had been taken.
Turn IN loose, young man., yelled the
captain, and the robbers in front sprang
hack out Of reach and gave m horses free
road. Had theNbeen wea ponin the crowd
we would have given them parting shot,
hut a 1t was we could only ma Ike time to the
next station. Thehorses went on a dea d run
and half an hour afterward a dozen men
started In pursuit of the road agents. l
hired man to drive and help try to
catch the thieves We got near them once
and had lively skirmish, killing two rob
bers and woundng third, but the rest got
away with the treasure.
DOWN THE DEVILS INCLINE.
Il never lost M nerve but once; then my
heart was IN my mouth for two or three
minutes We were descending the 'Derirs
incline. a long, straight. smooth hill with
twenty-five passengers on board. two OF
them women, occupying outside seats One
of the women sat behind Inc; the other, a
handsome young married woman, was be
tween her husband and me. When within
n quarter of a mile from the bottom OF the
hill my brake broke, and knew that with
in j second the coach. with its load OF pas
sengers, would dash forward upon the
horses. The team was in Il swinging trot
and legs, arms and possibly necks would
be broken if the passengers should attempt
To jump off, as they would be certain to III
gave them warning OF their danger.
There was not an instant to lose, so /
grasped my whip, shouted to my leaders
and cried Here is where we make time '
and down the long. smooth hill we went on
a run. If horse should stumble OF fall
it meant death to more than one passen-
ger on board: but fortunately the roa was
smooth and the animals kept heir feet. 1
piled the lash and again shouted to the
leaders as the big coach began TO gain upon
them. The passengers grew frightened as
the vehicle reeled and rocked under the tre-
mendous speed. Several cried, Stop! stop!
but this was just what could not do. The
young husband believed me insane for the
moment, and drawing a pistol cried, Now,
hold up, or by heavens will put bullet
through your heart Instead of attempting
to compiyI again lashed my team, for in a
moment or two the danger would be over.
The young man sternly repeated his threat,
but just then his wife struck the pistol and
knocked 1t out of his hand. With a wild yell
at the team, which made them all spring for
ward out of the reach of the mighty wheels,
We dashed out upon the plain ut t he foot of
'he mn anu eooh was L" d Posihoh W pun
up and explain our danger. The young mar
ried woman, who ha been quite cool up to
that instant, tainted dead away and came
near falling from the seat. On reaching the
end of our journey the passengers dubbed
together and bought ine handsome gold
watch, butI can assure you that would not
take that ride again Tor all the watches on
earth.
This station was located on the edge
of level valley ten or twelve miles across,
which had once been alkali lake, and
tho surfnca 1rnc bnr ri smooth anil lav