The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-08-13
THE WlLHOlT STAGE.
Held Up by Two Masked Highwsymen
and Robbed.

Held Up by Two Masked Htghwaymen
and Robbed.
Oregon City, Aug. 5.-An excited
messenger came galloping into town
this evening with the news that the
Without stage, which left this city to-
day noon had been robbed. A dozen
to twenty shots were fired, two horses
were killed and the pockets and bag
gage of the passengers rified. 1t IS not
known how much property was taken.
The robbers were interrupted in their
work by two farmers, who exchanged
several shots with them, and drove
them into the woods.
The robbery took place within 200
yards of the Milk creek bridge, where
the last of last years hold-ups occur
red. The same driver, Bill Nation,
held the reins of the four-horse team,
and as he rounded turn in the road,
two masked men stepped from the
brush and commanded him to stop.
Two of the horses were frightened by
the sudden appearance Of the men at
the roadside, and they started to run.
The robbers promptly took three shots
at the team, bringing the leaders
down, each horse having front leg
shattered, and having also shot in the
back.
Of course, that stopped the stage.
and the robbers at once began the
search for booty. They had pretty
thoroughly scared the driver, as we'll
as the passengers, and when they called
to all hands to "shell out and be quick
about it, all hands "shelled out. y
The driver gave up his revolver and a
little coin, and the passengers, Mr..
and Mrs. Hidinger and daughter, Of
Portland, and Chinaman, delivered
their valuables, but the amount is not
reported. Then the robbers turned to
the baggage and went through that,
taking whatever they found that pleas
ed them. 1t is supposed they did not
get much from the baggage.
While the robbery was in progress,
Thomas Duffy, who carries the mail
between Oregon City and Molalla,
came along, and the thieves took a
couple of shots at him, sending him
away in a hurry. He told Phil M.
Graves and Mr.. Woodside, two farm
ers whom he met, about the affair, and
they went at once to the rescue, open
ing fire on the robbers, who retired,
after answering with several shots.
their misery, and posse was organized
on the spot and started in hot pursuit.
The course taken by the robbers was
up Milk creek in a rugged country
leading to the mountains. The coun.
try is fairly we'll settled by ranchers,
hard time to get away. Chief OF Pc.
lice Burns, of this city, and Deputy
Sheriffs Noblitt and Samson started
from town this evening to push the
hunt for the men.
No description of them is given ex-
cept that they are both tall, roughly
dressed and apparently young men.
Their cloth masks prevented view of
their features. The holdup took place
about o'clock this afternoon, and the
pursuit of the thieves was so prompt
that it is thought their chances of es-
cape are slim. The stage continued on
to Without. The horses that were
killed belonged to Liveryman Noblitt,
and we're valued at $50.
Last season the same stage was held
up twice not far from the spot where
today's robbery occurred. No shots
were then fired, and the amount of the
plumber was small. The affairs then
were conducted similarly to that of
today, except that one man did the
porl1