Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-03-04
pioneer Sketches.

Misso"" .all known in tins citN III
'ao''sr days as Bill Berry ne ,, """
pio" "ro,her John know" II, 'u ,'G,
n ,. wv arrived in Le"'st'" ID ioo, !,
Berry rrourht with them pack 'f"l"
a i"s, were among the first s t" engage "a, n No
anu n transportation OF ire's". ~ ''' '
tue "' ,.nr this city. Their first WORK
m'hes ,,e Pierce city route then 10
WA ','s ~ and in 1862 to Florence, /" Tue
, h,n, camp they esta'lish'" IL s'"'.
la''e' ,h. elder brother manager
D '"il. Bill was engaged with the pack
vii" on the road between Lewiston
and Florence ,.,
,r,a p.rry brothers were prnc''ta'
,aars and they had many 'r'eh"s
lh'ne'7 .n .uc,e,stul mel. in the new
' Of Idaho. They came to oa cav
,orn,a by the l-'hmus route III iof'
w.,y Of their California a>soc''''es
"''' ,,e rich men Of Florence in the
wv If ,s6. On the last trip OF the
"a, train they c:osed GU; their h'e'
F.,;,e business and decided to return
."I.wi.,on to winter. There TIA" bee"
s..ome time near the close OF the sea-
~, not express route into Florence oS
..;o, the dust could he shipped "ul'
n,,a Baldwin, now Of 0fangcN''ie'
,.a cen engaged as express agent
IN. summer. As the season
.av,n ed the country was Ger run pS
.u,ind, of bad characters. 5a'""'h
had gathered IA thorough knowledge "l
',,.d;t,on, that surrounded him.
Ia had n heavy shipment of gold t"
,ouv.y to Lewiston and he SUSPECTED
.+,ort would be made to hold MN
m He engaged seven t'u-te" men
armed them with shot guns loade"
with .lugs and started into the teeth OF
!. ,,er with a hundred and 1ifty
,hous,nd dollars in gold dust. he ana
hi. armed patrol were alert \"
,raxsr company ever went forth to
outy. But with all the display OF
couraye and the array Of force the rob
b.,s we're bold enough to attempt To
,o,t them M. Near the Nose Miner
toll cate at the head of Whiteo'rd
there was "A stockade across the road
evidently arranged to prevent tue
fight of the expressmen on theil
horses. They readily co'npreherded
the situation, and charged upon the
obstruction. they lined up for the
rssh with the best horse in the lead
They went straight ut the stockaot
and cleared il; like deer in their flight
The robbers were thwarted. Ihell
bullets and their curses followed the
fleeing forms down the winding trai
without effect.
This adventure drove Baldwin OF
the route aud there was great ac
emulation of dust in camp when lh'
Berry brothers were ready to return Il
the me tropolis. The friendships an'
the general high standing of the mel
were the causes of applications to for
ward many large sums of money
When they started on the morning o
October "a, they were the custodian
of half IA million dollars in dust. Tn
two brothers were riding along brush
lined trail near Rocky canyon, BIZ II
the lead, following the lazy pack AM
mails. Without warning they wer
each confronted 10y IA masked highway
man armed with II short double barre
shot gun. Dave English >too! befol
Bill, and Peoples before the Judge.
Bill Berry kne y English well an
recognized him as he commanded hii
10 hold up his hands. rhe Jude
begged his brother to give up the .du'
and not risk his life by IL fight. Ri
needed his brothers warning an
handed over his cantena. The rot
bers secured between six and te
thousand dollars, but overlooked tt
large sums which were packed in IL
apparajOes. They ordered their vi
tins to camp for the night AT Rock
canyon upon pain of death.
No soOi,er had the robbers passed o,
OF sight than Bill Berry mounted upo
the best mule in the train started
pursuit. The robbers were mOunte
upon the best stock in the COUNT
ana III the race Out-s,ripped the b
man on the NIUE. When Berry n
rived IN Lewiston he learned that Il
robbers. three in number, Bill People
Dave English and Charley Scott. h;
not stopped but PASSED on to Wal
Walla. Here Gus Meanlber Il Frenc
man joined in the chase. Wi,ho
pausing to rest, a four horse team W
secured and the fastest drive ever ma
between Lewiston and Walla Wa
was made on that run. They arriv
just behind the highwaymen, BcE
met Peoples in Brooks Saloon a
-"eahher met = .ott on the sire
Both We're diSarmpd bv the brave G.;