The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-01-09
ZONA'S STAGE ROBBERS
STORIES OF TWO MEN WHO TER
RoRIzED THE SOUTH WEST.
Ono Man aHolds Up' a Stage Load
of Eight Passengers-Tracked TO
Their Hiding Place by Apaches.

l
Their Hiding Place by Apaches.
~ AN ELKINS is remembered as
the origina]!lone bandit OF the
Southwest, because, single
handed, he once held up a
stage load OF eight passengers, besides
the driver, all OF whom were
armed. For weeks the exploit was
the talk of the men in and about
Tombstone. Judge Bennett, now OF
San Gabriel, CAL, was one OF the pas
sengers, and he tells how the roDber
worked his desperate game.
; eve on the inside of ike coach had
lust been talking" says the Judge,
'sof tho robberies that Elklns ana his
partner. Wilbur, had committed IN
the Territory, and the shame 1T was
that an organized effort was not made
to 90 and keep after the villains until
thew were killed, even if it took o
wear, when we heard rifle crack. ana
O men shout to the driver:
{" Come, now, stop those horses OF
you'll drop dead
"We were travelling through rocky
region along the foothills, and each OF
us knew instantly that all were IN Tor
o hold-up then and there. Every one
wondered what his neighbor would do
with his pistol.
".I'll be hanged said big man
from Texas, IF I'll stand this nom
sense and he snatched his big shoot
ing iron up from the seat at his side.
| "The driver put on the breaks ana
the stage was stopped at once. when
we heard voice outside saying: ..
Now you fellers on the inside get
ont on this side. The first man who
gets out on the other side will drop
dead as a smelt. Don't be lazy. All
| of YOU throw down your shooters; as
YOU file out of the coach, Tor there a
lot of sure rifle shots that's got their
ewes on you and are hiding in these
. here rocks to lay you out cold dead II
, YOU don't mind what I'm telling you.
"When got out of the stage l no.
, ticed that the highwayman wore
! wire mask continuance over his fsce'
T and had big black beard and Whole
. arsenal of weapons in belt about ms
t waist. He stood on commanding
; boulder, and kept his Winchester re
( peater moving slowly over us. toof
: particular pains that he saw tnreV
: down nv two pistols On the ground
n and / noticed that every one OF us
r including the Toxan, did the sam'
o thing.
IS "sThrow up your hands, gents,
r said the masked robber, when We wer
: all on the ground and our pistols Ia.
a there in pile by the side OF the coac
e wheels. Now get in line there, que,
n aud face this way. Keep your hand
IF above your heads, don't move; kee
1T your mouths shut. or yon'll know no
70 ouick man can go plumb to death.
,r "We got in line facing our commaI
~ der in a moment, and none OF us coul
ne extend his hands quite high enougl
or "sNow, you young fellow with IL
pc monkey whiskers, said tho highwa.
re man, you just she'll out there whel
YOU stand. Turn your pockets insle
or out, so me and my pards can see ia
10 vou're dealing fair. That's RICH
nd Now. while me and my pards keep "
he in gun range, you search that ne
NO man. turn his pockets out. Keep yo
be hands up high, gents, and save troupl
nd Don't speak.
le- .In few minutes that seemed Ii
ir- ages of an awful silence. each man "
ed. searched, and we all stood there II
row with our pockets turned out o.
tapping in the morning bree'
onr hands full foot above @
has heads, and q small pile of walle
in watches, little pocket leather and clS
inc bags of coin lay at the 5eet OF the you
are man of our party, who had been CO
ing PEELED to search his companions. :,
The ".Now, you driver, throw Il
fas- money box off quick, while my pa
ices keep you in range said the rob
) if when we had been searched. The
the that's right. Be lively. 1t may G
rty- vow your carcass. Get that ak un
is q The back seat and chop the box op
, be Hurry up. Don't speak, and d.
she get behind that coach, or you1i or;
one "The ak was got, and the DIR
lich chopped open the box near us "
ned we stood there like metal forms
front OF clothing stores. When
the box had been split apart and the va
the bles thrown out, the highwayman
he the time keeping his ride slowly y
he'd ing up and down our line OF sli
b as hand.uplifted men. said:
the ".Now, driver, get up on your
ner- You gents get into your coach. u
that let me hear you peep. Driver,
the your horses up fast and get on
be- this.
the "sNow, gents said he, as the
rites of us had got back into our 8
ther weaponless, you can brag that yc
ven. been held up by singlehanded II
|. profesh. / don't mind telling
that I'm all alone to day and T.
need your money awful bad.
has them Tombstone fellers that Da
d the kins has new trick in his IL
ry, a business.
hills "rhe horses were whipped up,
tion, the last we saw of Dan Elkins he
had, there on that big boulder keepin
only head still on us until we turn'
the foothill road mile away. l
1892 the rascal must have got $1,000
'emo- day. You see we did not carry
1T, in money on our persons In those
ways when there was danger OF ing
neral | rohherv0