Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-04
H0LDuP
TH1RTY-TWO PERSONS AMI
THREE COACHES ARE ROBBED.
DEED OF LONE HtGHWAyMAN,
Robber is Still at Large-Escaped lust
AS a Command of Cavalry APP
peared on Scene.

Wayman who. Saturday, held up three
yosemite stages and two wagons and. two
United States cavalrymen, isl still at
large. Additional details reveal that.the
number of people held up numderedJS2-
~ men and five women. Major Rufker
and Captain Wilcox. U. s. A., with 6S,men
or troop F. who We're or the way to Yose-
mite, reached the scene Just asl the rob
Der was opening the express box. Seeing
the troopers he disappeared in the brush.
A long stretch of sand covered" by
brush is met at this point, and wagons
are compelled to go slowly, as the pull
lngs hard on the horses. The road asent
manifestly knew the situation perfectly,
for this Is the season in which itrave) to
the Yosemite is heaviest and he might
figure on realizing handsomely. The
stages held up are the ones that leave
Raymond in the morning for Wawaona
en- route to Yosemite valley. The rush to
the valley has been SO great of Hate that
commodate the tourists.
A. H. Foster. one of the Oldest EN-
ployes of the stage company, was the
first to make the acquaintance of the
bandit. He was taking a party of tour
lists to the Mariposa big trees. AS he
reached the top of a small hill he was
commanded to halt by the lone highway
man, who ordered him to stand to one
side. The passengers We're ordered to
hand over their baluables. the robber get
ting $50.
About 20 minutes elapsed before the
next Yosemite stage came along, in
charge of Bright Gillespie, with the fol-
lowing passengers. The Misses Atherton
of England, Mr.. and Mrs. A. NJ. Drake Of
st. Paul, Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas HI. Griffin
of San Francisco. Mr.. and Mrs. w M.
Hart Of Berkeley and S. r. Bobanji of
Bombay. Before the passengers realized
that the affair was no joke the stage was
pulled up and the men were clambering
down. The one highwayman's manner
was quiet n easy: his orders came clear
and cool from behind the handkerchief.
Climb down there; hurry up-no ex-
ceptions. Lin up there. Now, you there,
pass the hat
The dignified gentleman indicated by
an effective gesture with the rifle was T.
H. Griffin. He walked b~areheaded up and
down the line and collected. Then he
was ordered to chip in himself. He ten
dered the hat to the robber. The hat
was accepted. emptied n returned to
the owner. But still the robber was not
satisfied.
You've got more thar that" he said,
turn out your pockets"
They did SO, revealing stray nlckels
and quarters, which they were allowed
to keep.
Climb in was the next order.
The next stage. driven by Thomas
Shelton, carried the mail and express
who was ordered to throw out the ex-
press box and to line up. Next came an
other stage, driven by Ernest Stevens
with five Chinese. The Chinese were or.
dered to hand over their valuables, bu1
they said, mo sable talk. The robbel
leveled his rifle on them sayin< you
! can't fool me as they did IN the Bic Oak
! flat road" The Chinese then turned their
pockets inside out and the robber obtain.
ed about SIS. a#. Il
After waiting some time. the robber or
dered all the teams to drive on. telling, the
| soldiers to get into one of the stages anc
! ordering two of the passengers to noun
the saddle horses and go down the roac
; and stay half an hour before returning.
The passengers started out, but hao
! not gone over 30 yards when they me-
Major Rucver and Captain Wilcox will
the cavalrymen. Upon being informed Of
the situation the officers hurried to thu
scene of the hold-up. In the meantime
| the robber attempted to open the ex-
press box, but, seeing the soldiers upol
him, disappeared in the rush., leaving
the express box unopened, a box contain
] ing clothing 1or disguise, cartridges am
I field glasses. The cavalry scattered II
pursuit, hut afterward gave up tn
chase.
The robber spoke with a Swedish ae
cent and his description corresponds Will
hat of the man who held up two stages
at Big Oak flat on May 1S. He gave tn
driver of one of the stages a card bear
ing the legend, Black Kid, saving
II hope we will get better acquainted, OIL
man." -
From the three stages he collected
about $3.50.