The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-08
HICHWAYMEN IN
AMAD0R COUNTY.
Attempt to Hold Up a Stage a Few
Miles From Jackson.
The Bandits Wound Two Men, But Secure
No Treasure.

The Battleship Iowa Arrives at
San Francisco After a Long
Voyage From the At1antic-The
Warship to Go to Mare Island
To-Day to be Cleaned and Have
Needed Repairs Made.
JACKSON, Feb. IAN attempt was
made by two masked men to hold up
the Jackson and lone stage this morn
ing. The place selected was at point
about four miles from Jackson, where
high rocks on either side of the road
afford excellent protection to would-be
robbers It is not more than one mile
from the fatal buckeye bush which
sheltered the merderer of Messenger
Tovey over six years ago.
The stage started from Jackson this
morning at O'Clock, reaching the
scene of the holdup one hour later.
There were no passengers, the only per
sons aboard being the driver, Pete Po-
desta, and a Wells-Fargo messenger
r. E. Mcconnell, and two men named
Frank Gosh and Joe Ratio, who were
going to their work on the road.
The day was an ordinary treasure
shipment day On special treasure
days, when the bullion from the mines
is carried by the stage, guards usually
accompany the stage.
On reaching the point on the road
above designated, without a word of
warning the report of a gun startled the
occupants Of the stage. It came from
the left side of the road, the weapon
being loaded with buckshot. Both Po-
desta and Mcconnell were wounded by
the first discharge, one shot passing
through Podesta's hand, producing
painful wound. Two shots struck Nc
Council in the left shoulder. The horses
Immediately started into a gallop, and
as the stage was being rapidly carried
beyond range one of the robbers, who
We're now in plain view, took parting
shot, but without effect. Messenger
Mcconnell returned the fire, but, lit is
believed, without result, as the jolting
of the stage made it impossible to take
accurate aim.
News of the crime was forwarded at
once to Marten's Station, two miles
from here, and from thence telephoned
to Jackson. Sheriff Gregory started
out to hunt for the robbers with a posse
of ten or more deputies and two blood
hounds.
The morning was cold, and the ground
was frozen hard and this fact makes
it doubtful whether any traces of the
desperadoes can be found. Their camp
among the rocks was inspected, and an
unexploded Winchester rife cartridge
was picked up. 1t had been snapped,
but failed to explode. This leads to the
conclusion that one robber was armed
with a shotgun and the other with a
rifle. They We're observed to retire
from the field of operations in a south
erly direction, which would lead them
toward the Mokelumne River.
The stage was driven on to lone by
Mcconnell Podesta went on as far as
Dufresne, three miles from lone, where
his hand became SO painful and swollen
that he determined to return to Jack
son with two of the stage horses.
Messenger Mcconnell only resumed
his place as guard on this line last Sun
day, this being his third trip after his
recovery from a long siege of illness
caused by am accident which befell him
last September while on duty as ex
press agent. He was thrown violently
against the corner of an iron safe in an
express car.
Mcconnell was hit in the left arm in
four places. He had his injuries tenn
porarily attended to in lone and was
taken to Stockton for surgical treat
ment. The highwayman fired three
shots, and Mcconnell replied once.
Pete Podesta, the stage driver, who
reached here this afternoon, was shot
twice through the hand his coat was
perforated with buckshot and his watch
chain was cut in two.
AS the shooting began after the stage
passed the point where the outlaws
were concealed, no description of them
can be given. One of the bloodhounds
placed on the trail lost the scent two
miles from the scene of the hold up.
The other kept on toward the Mokel-
umne River. Scores of citizens are cut
in search of the would-be robbers.
The monthly shipment from the Ar
gonaut mine was made last Sunday
The regular days for shipping treasure
are Tuesdays and Fridays 1t seems
evident that the outlaws knew this,
3
amount of treasure.
Late this afternoon Sheriff Gregory
from Mokelumne Hill with
two whom he arrested on suspicion of
being the highwaymen. Roth are. APP
parently tramps, and were discharged |
from the County Jail few days ago.
having been confined as Migrants. They
were at Martell's Station last night |
when the stage passed. and this morn
ing they reached Stockton. There is |
no direct evidence against them, but |
they will be held pending a thorough |
investigation.
STOCKTON, Feb. 7.-R. E. McCon-
nell, the plucky shotgun messenger of |
the Wells-Fargo Company, who was !
shot to-day by robbers near Jackson, |
drove to this city from lone. He was |
shot with double B shot, two passing |
his left forearm, two more |
were taken out of the arm by surgeons |
and one remains in the flesh too deep |
to be cut out. No bones are broken /
Most of the charge went under his arm |
and between the arm and his body.
BY THE GAS ROUTE.