The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-06

GINA City. He now brings US to the
thrilling features of the story.
1T was olN the morning of Oct. %,
1868, the stage coach drew up in front
of the hotel and two passengers for
Bannack got aboard. Caldwell was
sick that day aud had lugged a fellow
named Bill Rulnsey to drive for him
that trip. About o'clock the coach
left the hotel and proceeded on its way.
AT Dempsey's ranch 'Bummer Dan
got on board. He was dressed comfort
ably and wore a heavy blue flannel
shirt. About his waist was wide
leather belt. to which, underneath his
shirt, was attached four sacks of gold
dust. Outside on either hip was
buckled two navy revolvers, and in
the belt were probably q dozen car
tridges. Dan climbed on and the stage
coach rolled away until Rattlesnake
creek was reached. This point was a
changing station, but on arriving there
Driver Rumsey found that all the ex-
ira horses had strayed away, and the
coach was Obliged to remain there over
night. All night long Rumsey searched
for fresh horses, but without success,
and in the morning the old stock were
hitched up and the journey continued
The forenoon passed and the tired
horses did well, but at noon they gave
out, and although the whip was vigor-
ously applied they could not be urged
beyond a walk About / o'clock the
coach entered q narrow gulch coming
out just around the brow of a hill
Just as the wagon was opposite two
riders, with blankets over their heads
and shotguns ready for action, rode
swiftly up
Look out, boys; road agents are
coming; hide your dust!' cried Rum
sey from his seat, as he tried to urge
his WORKOUT horses on. But it was
too late. Throw up your handsp came
the order. and two shotguns were lev
eled at Rumsey. He stopped, and
moment later was ordered to come
down from his seat, and one of the pas
sengers was ordered up in the seat
vacated, to watch the team
" Now go through the pockets of
the passengers and pile the stuff on the
ground, came the order to Rumsey,
Who with shotgun at his head,
Off and piled up first. Then pockets
were gone through, and probably from
$4,000 to $4,000 laid on the ground be-
side the weapons. That's ALL said
Rumsey, as he completed the imposed
task. But the thieves were not salts
lied. Have you anything more on
you? was asked of the man who was
and the fellow hOwled: Don't shoot,
don't shoot. Yes, I have more Rum
Sey was then ordered to make another
search all around.
From hummer Dam he had taken
but one small sack, and protested that
he could find no more. Search BUM |
mer Dan" again. exclaimed the robber !
chief; he's the man we want to pan
out today. Dan was again searched, !
and Rumsey was obliged to pile up
two more of his sacks. With this the /
robbers were satisfied, and, after order |
ing the coach to proceed, threatened |
death if aught was said, and code off.
'Bannack was reached that evening, |
when Dan found that he had lust left |
$4,000 with the road agents. Bill Bur
ton, one of the other passengers, left
about $4,000, and in all the highwayrnen /
got about $4,000. When Dan reached |
Helena, in reciting the incident. he |
said: We'll, I've played a whole lot,
but never got such a short run for my /
money before.
AT Helena, Dan met Sheriff Plummer.
to whom he told his story, and received
an assurance that as soon as PIummer
got his dizzy he would turn it over to
Dan The robbery caused great excite
ment and it was not long before it was
known that Frank Parish and George
Ives, lieutenants of Plummer, did the
Job All, however, paid the penalty of
their crimes and died with their boots
on. In the following January they
We're strung up for that and other
crimes
1T WAS in November. 1863, when one
day Ives went to Andy O'Conne1, now /
of Helena. and informed him that he
heard Dan accuse him of the hold-up.
OConnell knowing full well what it
meant if Ives thought this, fastened
to explain that he had the day before
talked with Dan, who had no idea of
who did the job. Ives believed this and
went away.
Early in December, Dan packed up
his grip, and, with a stake of about
SO, 600, started for Colorado. We only
heard from him once after. He was
then in Leadville, the same old Bum
mer Dam without a cent, and no diff
ferent than on the day ne was a vic
tim Of the first coach robbery that
ever occurred in Montana"