The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-01

Highwaymen Hold Up Three Stages
in Close Succession, Wound Two
Pusscrrers and XII Horses.


MILTON. Cal. Sept. So.-The down stages
from Angels camp were held up today by
two carefully disguised highwaymen.
Heavy travel lately has required the use OF
two double vehicles in addition TO the reg
ular stage coach.
The first OF the three vehicles was climb
ing Palafos bill. the scene OF several for
mer stage robberies, when two masked
men advanced into the road from the
shelter OF a rock and ordered the stage to
stop. They wore long. dark ulsters. their
feet being covered with gunny sacks. The
passengers were told 70 alight aud. while
one highwayman covered them with a shot
gun. the other relieved them of their
money. He examined the watch OF each
passenger. but took none OF them The
bandits then ordered Driver Lewis to pro-
coed into an adjoining ravine, so that his
carriage could be concealed before the ar
rival OF the second coach. twenty minutes
later.
The second coach was driven by Louis
Ragg1o. brother of the proprietor of the
stage line. He was halted. and the pas
sengers were then forced to relinquish all
their money. The robbers then returned TO
the shelter OF the large rock TO await the
arrival OF the stage coach proper. the pas
sengers Of the a~vance vehicle meanwhile
being herded in the ravane.
nnen the heavy coach came up the
bandits repeated the command TO halt,
given twice before; but 1t was unheeoed
by Driver Schwoerer. who afterwards said
he did not hear It. One OF the robbers.
armed with revolver, then poured vol
ley of bullets into the bodies OF the stage
horses. One OF the leaders was shot three
times in the left shoulder. and wheeler
also received a bullet. The robber fired
rwo shots through the curtains of the
coach 70 complete the terroriZing Of the
passengers.
After running ffty-fve yards further.
the wounded horses fell and the driver and
passenger sprang from the coach and ran
I'D the road TO the house Of a Mexican
named Palafos. II was then learned that
c. NJ. Alderman, a jewelsr, OF Angels
camp, had been wounded IN the right side,
and Abraham Mallof. an Assyrtan ped
dler, OF San Francisco. had been shot
through the left wrist.
AS soon as the stage coach stopped, the
robbers cut open the wooden express box.
but obtained little except the contents OF
a package OF moderate value. The robbers
then returned 10 the rayine and command
ed Drivers Raggio and Lewis 10 take their
vehicles and drive on. The robbers then
disappeared with the express booty and
the money taken from the passengers, not
exceeding $500
After their departure, Driver Schwoerer
returned TO his coach. found two OF his
horses dead and with the two wheelers
drove slowly into Milton. where the wound
ed men received attention. The injuries
were pronounced serious, but both the
wounded men were able TO depart by this
afternoons train.
AL OF the local officers are In pursuit OF
the highwaymen. but the scene Of the hold
up is Wild and rugged. making pursuit diff
cult
CKIAI. Cal. Sept. 3o.--Sherin Johnson
arrived from Round Valley at O'Clock this
morning and left in pursuit of the stage
robbers. whose Identity has been establish
ed. The officers are confident that the
bandits are two strangers who were seen
near the locality OF the hold-up by young
Grow and Donohue Saturday last.
Bloo6hounds followed the trail OF the
outlaws 70 where the two strangers were
known 20 have camped and. as all avenues
OF escape have been practically closed BY
armed men. today's man hunt will doubt
less bring startling developments. It is
now raining. however. which may some
what impede The search.
ANGELS CAMP. Cal. CO. NJ. Acker-
man. one 81 the victims OF the Milton
stage hol6-up IS stiI alive but his physl-
clans say there is small chance Of life
The officers have not discovered a single
clew as 70 the perpetrators Of the crime.