The San Francisco call., 1896-01-01
Wells, Fargo & Co.'S Treasure
Box Looted, but the Passen.
:; :; gers Not Molested.
TRAILED BY BLooDHoUNDs,
Sheriff Johnson Confident That He
: Has the Road Agent in. :. e !.
=. s. :. Close Quarters. s ::

. o.
+: UKIAH, CALL, Dec. 31:-The overland
stage running between Ukiah and Harris,
which is the. most northerly stage station
>ninety-fve miles from here, was held.up
this morning: near Sewards,: about ten
miles north. of here. The work was done
bya lone highwayman.: The scene Of
robbery is about halfway between this
place and. Willits, and the hold-up took
place in a heavily wooded portion Of the
road.
/. The stage left Willis on time in charge
of Theodore Howard, the regular driver.
There We're four passengers aboard, all
ladies. They were the Misses Edith
Rogers and Fannie Rice of Willis, and
Mrs. W..D. Cook and her daugh ter-in- law
OF Santa Rosa. The stage was descending
a hill near Stewards, at which. place there
is a fork. in the. main road, running to
Redwood Valley. The main road runs
through a brushy section for some dis
tance, and at the foot. of the hill crosses
the Russian River.
AS the stage was close to the foot of the
grade man emerged from the brush on
the north side of the road and; with
drawn revolver, halted the stage The
robber was of medium height and build
and was dressed in a suit of~light.clothes.
His face was concealed behind red BAN.
dana handkerchief. The road agent
ordered the driver to throw out Wells
Fargo 5. express box,and tine demand was
complied with. -. -
The driver was about to proceed on his
way, but he was ordered to throw out the
pouch containing the way mail: and regis
tered packages. No demand was made
for the overland mail. Howard did as
directed blythe highwayman without de-
lay and then was told to drive on. :
The robbery occurred about $50 o'clock
and the stage arrived here practically on.
time. The local authorities were imme-
diatelv notified " and Sheriff Johnson,
accompanied by Deputies. ]: i. johnson
and. II. I, Hatch and Under Sheriff Philo
Handy, left for the scene of the hold-up.
Sheriff Johnson had his bloodhounds with
him.. .Ex-Sheriff ]. NJ. Standley and Con-
stables a. a. Burke and G., W. Hughes
are also on the trail and working inde-
pendently of the county officers.
Deputy Hatch and Under-Sheriff Handy
returned late this evening and reported
that the bloodhounds had trailed the rob-
Der down along the river bank two miles
below. the scene of the robbery, at which
place .the tracks led off UP the bluff away
from the river, and at last reports the
hounds were heading toward this place
and were. some distance: east of Capella,
six miles north of here, with the tracks
again running close TO tie Russian River.
~~It.is expected that the rohber will be taken.
before morning. Handy tonight brought
ihthe express box and mail-pouches. The
latter:Mere cut open with an axe andthe
express box.was opened in the same way.
All the letters were takenr but the papers
were not molested, It is not known how
much the treasure:box contained.
Sheriff Johnson returned from the chase
near midnight. Heis satisfied that he has
his man spotted and an arrest will prob
ably be made before morning. Johnson
. -.