The San Francisco call., 1896-08-16
tinge of his complexion is not unlike that

tinge of his compile xion is not unlike that
of the noble redman.
Gentlemen, he said to the committee,
II never thought of being compelled to
ask such favor from my friends as now
propose to do. / have fought the fight as
bravely as / could, but time has proven
the winner, and now I am alone and With
out money in my declining years. MY
wants are simple. / must make living,
but have not the money with which TO
purchase license to begin business. l
want a license to conduct little fruit
stand at the southwest corner of Mission
and Sixth Streets"
That was all. The request of the cap.
tain was readily granted, and the stand
was opened on the outer edge OF the side
walk at the corner mentioned several days
ago. There he holds levees daily with his
numerous friends, who walk blocks out OF
their way to purchase nickeps worth OF
peaches, pears or apples from the old man.
Captain Collins was stage-driver IN MS
time. and yesterday, in a reminiscent
mood, he recalled some interesting Incl
dents of his staging days.
II guess I've been hung up as often as
any stage-driver that ever pulled the
strings over six animals" he remarked.
Encouraged by his small audience the
captain continued:
eyes, that's fact, but the fellows that
stood me up were generally high-toned
boys-not the lone-highwayman class
because it took more than one to stand me
up in those days, and had no shotgun
messenger, either"
"Who was the most distinguished
gentleman of the road who ever ordered
you to throw out the box ?'' was asked of
the captain.
''Well, as l said, there were many of
them, but presume that Vasquez really
took the cake. It happened in Pacheco
Pass, on the Visalia route. 1t was shortly
after the noon hour and l had a fresh
team. Not that the team being fresh cut
any figure in the matter whatever, but it
happened just after the regular change OF
the horses.
When [ swung into the road around
the bend on the up grade I saw three
mounted and two unmounted men lined
up alongside the thoroughfare, and l
knew just what it was. l was personally
acquainted with Vasquez, and 1 knew it
was he and his gang. There were two
lady passengers, small boy and an old
gentleman in the coach, but there was not
a dollar in Adams express box. That
was before Wells-Fargo's time. The men
were all masked by bandana handker-
chiefs, and Vanquez, the leader, held up
his pistol and ordered me to stop, when |
got opposite. You can gamble that took
no chances with that outfit, seeing the
load had and no money to lose, SO hove
down the brake and set my team almost
on their launches with jerk.
"'Good afternoon, Mr.. Vasquez, says I.
'How's business in your liner
I'd dull, Jeem, he says, taking off
his mask. L will try to do little busi-
ness with you, though. Throw out the
box
There amt nickel in it, Mr.. Vas
quez,' says l, handing the box to him,
which he shook for a rattle. When he
found that there was nothing in it he let
out string of Spanish oaUhs tossed it
back, commanded me to drive ahead and
upon pain of death not to report him
until l got to the end of my journey.
This command 1 obeyed strictly No
damage was done further than the faint
II got into trouble in the later sixtie
with Mason and Henry, the two noted
and through the innocence
of Attorney Brooks OF Visalia got sus-
pended. These men were being closely
pursued by officers and really had no
chance to get food for themselves. I took
them things to eat in order to keep them
from robbing the stage. Mr.. Brooks saw
me pass out provisions to the men be-
tween Firebaughs Ferry and Elkhorn,
and reported the matter, which led to my
suspension. The men were soon after
ward caught IN the Sugar Loaf. Fifteen
times aside from this / have been hung
up on the road. In fact my horses got so
used to it that they would stop on seeing
a man beside the road with a pistol or
shotgun"
From stage-driving the captain went to
mining, where he piled up a fortune of
$500, 900. Later he became dairyman, I
being the owner of the well-known Bel
mont dairy, which supplied the city insti-
tutions with milk for many years. His
fortune gradually waned, until now the
gallant old man is driven tn selling
fruits, with free license, on a street cor
ner, as stated above.
Yet he is happy in telling about driving
the first stage to Gilroy Hot Springs and
of making $l00 600 in an hour once.
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