The record-union., 1897-05-11
But the Latter Succeeds in Saving the
Money Of His Employer.
Hurls the Cash Drawer Into the Face
of One of the Thieves, and Immedi-
ateIy Follows Up His Advantage
by Opening Fire With His Re-
volver, Frightening the Bandits
From the Premises.

NEVADA CITY, May 10.-A bold at
tempt at robbery occurred in this city
early this morning.
At $50 o'clock two men with linen
busters on and wearing masks entered
the office of the Union Hotel through
the washroom, to which apartment
they gained entrance from the rear of
the building.
Walter Kavanagh, the night clerk,
was alone in the office. One of the in
truders covered him with a revolver
and ordered him to give up his valu-
ables. He handed over his watch and
$40 in money.
The men then searched in the draw
ers and lockers back of the counter for
the keys to the safe and money draw
er, and succeeded in finding them, but
could not pick out the right ones. They
ordered the night clerk to open the
safe and take out the money.
While Kavanagh was thus engaged
one of the robbers stepped around in
front of the counter and kept him
covered with a pistol, the robbers in
the meantime having turned off the
lights and locked the front door.
The first thing taken from the safe
was a bag containing money belonging
to sporting men. Into this bag was put
the watch and $40 taken from Kava-
nagh. Next came the cash drawer
Just as Kavanagh removed this from
the safe he noticed that one of the
men had his head partly turned.
Raising the drawer Kavanagh threw
it with all of it's contents into the rob
ber's face. The blow staggered the
robber, and Kavanagh grabbed his
own revolver, which was lying under
a newspaper about a foot from the
safe and began firing at the man in
front of him.
After the first shot Kavanagh
dropped to his knees back of the coun-
ter. but continued shooting. The shots
and other noise aroused the people in
the second story, and j. NorthWay. the
proprietor of the hotel, was soon down
stairs. Hearing people coming from
the floor above, and fearing capture
the two masked men fed, going out by
the same route as they entered.
AS one of the men reached the door
Of the washrOom he turned and fired
four shots at the night clerk, all of
which passed in proximity to Kava-
nagh's head and lodged in the wall.
The only thing stolen by the robbers
was a revolver, which had been left in
the safe. There was over $3.50 in the
safe
Young Kavanagh is the hero of the
hour. He is scarcely of age, short of
stature and weighs about 120 pounds.
Within half hour after the bandits
made their precipitate retreat Sheriff
Gotchell and Night Watchman Russell
had been notified of the occurrence
and were on the scene with the county
bloodhound, Jim Budd
In the alley in the rear of the hotel
was found a heavy dark coat cast
away by one of the robbers. and both
of the masks they had worn. The
bloodhound was given a sniff of these
articles and took up the trail. He led
the officers long High street in the rear
of the gas works, across the fill in
front of the Catholic church, then out
Coyote street into manzanita hydraulic
diggings.
An occasional track seen here and
there showed there We're two fugitives
and they We're afoot Jim followed
them steadily through the claim. along
the raVine and out under the South
Yuba Company's flue to the Blue Tent
road, along which he traced .ner1 north
for a mile. The officers believe the
robbers live here and are now in the