The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-15

The Democrat of Idaho City, Ida in
its Pioneer Sketches" contains the
following interesting Renaissance:
Charles William Berry, who died in
Missoula on the 18th of last month, was
well known in this city in pioneer days
as Bill Berry. He and his brother John,
known as Judge Berry. arrived in Lew
iston in 1861. They brought with them
a pack train and were among the first
to engage in the transportation of
freight to the mines from this city.
Their first work was on the Pierce City
route, then to Elk, and in 1862 to Flor
ence. In the latter camp they estab-
lished a store. which the elder brother
managed while Bill was engaged with
the pack train on the road between
Lewiston and Florence
The Berry brothers were practical
miners and they had many friends
among the successful men in the new
camps of Idaho. They came to Cali
foInia by the isthmuS route in 1S49.
Many of their California associates
were the rich men of Florence in the
fail of 1862. On the last trip of the pack
train they closed out their mercantile.
business and decided to return to Lew
iston to winter. There had been for
some time near the close of the season
no express route into Florence by
which the dust could be shipped out.
Dave Baldwin, now of Grangeville, had
been engaged as express agent early in
the summer. AS the season advanced
the country was overrun by all kinds
Of bad characters. Baldwin had gath
cred a thorough knowledge of the con-
iditiOns that surrounded him. He had a
nos NJ n fO
Lewiston and he suspected an effort
would be made to hold him up. He
engaged seven trusted men armed with
shotguns loaded with slugs and started
into the teeth of danger with S150, 900
in gold dust. He and his armed patrol
were alert. No Drawer company ever
went forth to duty. But with all the
display of courage and the array of
force the robbers were bold enough to
attempt to hold them up. Near the
Nose Miner toll gate at the head of
Whitebird there was a stockade across
the road, evidently arranged to prevent
the fight of the expressmen on their
horses. They readily comprehended the
situation and charged upon the OBJ
sstruction. They lined up for the rush
with the best horse in the lead. They
went straight at the stockade and
cleared it like deer in their flight. The
robbers we're thwarted. Their bullets |
ana In6lE curses IOllOWeQ the neeln& |
forms down the winding trail without !
effect.
This adventure drove Baldwin off the |
route and there was a great accumula- |
ton of dust in camp when the Berry |
brothers were ready to return to the |
metropolis. The friendships and the
general high standing of the men were
the causes of applications to forward |
many large sums of money. When /
they started on the morning of Oct "A,
they were the custodians of half a mil
lion dollars in dust The two brothers
were riding along the brush-lined trail
near Rocky canyon. Bill in the lead
following the lazy pack animals With
out warning they were each confronted |
by a masked highwayman armed with
a short double-berrel shotgun Dave
English stood before Bill, and PEOPLES
before the judge.
Bill Berry knew English well and
recognized him as he commanded him
to hold up his hands. The judge begged
his brother to give up the dust and not
risk his life by a fight. Bill needed his
brothers warning and handed over his
cantena. The robbers secured between
six and seven thousand dollars. but
overlooked the large sums which were
packed in the apparajoes They or
dered their victims to camp for the
night at Rocky canyon upon pain of
death.
No sooner had the robbers passed out
Of sight than Bill Berry mounted upon =,
the best mule in the train and started
N pursuit. The robbers were mounted
Upon the best stock in the country and
in the race Outstripped the big man on
the mule. When Berry arrived in Lew ,
iston ne learned that the robbers. three
in number. Bill Peoples, Dave English
and Charley Scott, had not stopped but
passed on to Walla Walla. Here GINS ;
Meamber, Frenchman. Joined :
n the chase. Without pausing to rest. a {
four-hOrse team was secured and the | :
fastest drive ever made between Lew :
ston and Walla Walla was made on :
hat run. They arrived just behind the 4
Berry met Peoples in +
Brooks saloon and Meamber met Scott f
IN the street. Both were disarmed by t
=