Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-16
The STORY Telter.
THE OLD WOMAN'S MONEY.
AN EPISODE OF THE FRONTIER.

cember night IN '9U. Inere were
number of us-all newspaper cores
dondents-and few interpreters, Of
ficers, and reservation employees. The
days previous had been full of excite
ment, for the Brule and Ogallala Sioux
were engaged in the Ghost Dance or
Messiah Craze. About the agency
General Miles had grouped some 1,5OO
troops; beyond their white tents clus-
tered the dingy tepees of the Indians,
some 800 of them.
We greatly enjoyed those evenings
in the hotel. They brought back to
memory pictures of the old west-sta-
ging, buffalo hunting, Indian fighting.
And what a fund of information the
scouts, interpreters, and "old timers
poured into our willing ears Each
one could have talked all night, and
yet left the narration of his experien-
ces unfinished then. We were espe-
cially interested in the singular career
of B. He had left a home in Connect.
cut, and after varied experiences in
Iowa and Nebraska, Joined company
of miners, and with them entered the
new mining camp of Deadwood. He
was then but II years old. That same
winter he carried the first mail out of
Deadwood to the Missouri river. e.
B. joined our circle while a scout
was relating some experiences with
stage robbers in the early 70s, and
Immediately entered into the conver-
sation.
$50 far as I know, the smoothest
trick, prompted by desire to save
money, ever played upon stage robbers
occurred near Miles City in '79. A
load of passengers were almost within
sight of the town. They had been
travelling all day, and were worn out,
for the roads were awful bad in those
days, and all coaches bounced and
swayed very much. Having come
near their journeys end, they were
congratulating themselves. Hold-ups
had been frequent. Two heavily arm
ed messengers accompanied each coach,
with orders to fire on any person act
| ing suspiciously.
"'Dear me said an elderly man near
the door, I'm glad we are safe, have
about $500, and if I lost it, I don't
know where could get more
"'I can get plenty Of money said
travelling salesman, 'but the loss OF
what I have would put me to much
trouble out here among strangers
"Two miners and a prospector, each
with large rolls, expressed the salts
faction at passing dangerous points
safely. The next speaker was little
old woman, kind and motherly in her
ways.
"sMy boy has started a restaurant
in town, and is doing we'll. He wan
ted me to come and help, so here 1
am, goodness knows far enough away
from dear old Ohio. I thought he
would need his mother, for these min
ing towns are wild, I hear, and full of
temptations. 1 have only got 5000.
It's all the cash I have in the world.
Fearing robbers, have put it in a
place where no one would think of
looking. You cannot guess where.''
"Of course the guesses were all
wrong.
"sWell, have four $50 bills against
the sole of my foot inside my left shoe
"'Capital p said the elderly gentle
man. mo one would ever think of
looking for money in your shoes
"In the far corner at the front sat a
small, slender, black-haired man. He
kept between his feet little black
valise. No one spoke 10 him during
the journey, and he made no sound
save occasionally to cough in a pecu-
liar manner. Some of the passengers
thought him to be consumptive.
Even when general good-fellowship
prevailed he took no part in the con-
versation. Making bold, the old lady
said:
"'And you; what would you do if
you were held up?'
"a hollow cough and shrug of the
| shoulders was all MS reply.
"sWhat a mean fellown thought
the old gentleman.
"At this instant the coach lurched
violently to one side, and bang, bang,
bang came the sudden reports of guns.
One messenger was shot, the other
compelled to throw up his hands be-
fore time for resistance, and conster-
nation and terror prevailed within the
coach.
"'Lord, Lord = prayed the elderly
man.
"'Oh, dear, oh, dear!' cried the
woman.
Hustle up here, git out : and one
of the robbers held the door open with
his left hand, while he covered the
passengers with the revolver in his
right.
"Of course they all filed out, and
were stood up in row. There was
much trembling on the part of the
men, and the poor old woman wept
audibly. 1t only took few moments
to 90 through the pockets of the line,
and to investigate the messengers
small safe. Probably the road-agents
would have taken to the hills at this