Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1900-06-06
NO RESPECT FOR THE CAVALRY.
Single Handed a Bold Californian
but Easily Gotten Away With.

Wawona, Cal, June 4.-The "Black
Kid" single-handed, armed with maya
zine rifle, about 10 o'clock yesterday held
up and robbed at one time two wagons
and three coaches of the Yosemite Stage
and Turnpike company, carrying ~ men
and five women; then, without firing Il
shot, stood off a small squad of United
States regular cavalry and escaped into
the woods.
The first stage left Raymond about 5
o'clock a. m, carrying nine stonecutters
for Fish camp. The second regular pas
senger stage left at Z, preceded by a
troop OF United States cavalry on their
way into Yosemite.
The second stage overlook the cavalry
at Daisellos and began the long ascent to
Grub gulch. About three miles from the
Latter place the road turns sharply to the
right and runs straight across little sand
fiat with a low bank to the right and a
slope to the left covered with bushes and
few small trees.
As the stage swung slowly around the
curve its Passengers saw the first stage
drawn out to the left of the road, two
cavalry horses tied to the wheels: next
the passengers lying underneath tree;
then on the bank on the right solitary
figure with cooked revolver, grasped in
a backened hand, with a mask made of
a blue cotton handkerchief with white
dots moving gently in the wind and COW
ering the whole of his face except pale
blue eyes encircled with black. 1t is hard
to understand how one man could hold
up 81 unless one happened to be one OF
the 81. The "Black KID has peculiarly
effective gestures with his rifle, so per-
suasive that his orders were Immediately
and carefully obeyed.
"Climb down, there; hurry up; no ex-
ceptions. Line up there. Now, you,
there, pass the hat"
The dignifed gentleman indicated by
effective gestures with the rifle, walked
bareheaded up and down the line and col
lected. Then he was ordered to chip in
himself.
A sound of voices and hoof beats inter-
rupted an examination of the valises, but
it turned out to be stageload of Chi
nese. The other passengers were ordered
to look the other way while this load was
being held up.
An express wagon, with the mail and
express box, arrived next, and the driver
was compelled to- put down the box and
his lunch. His work was well done.
Two stonecutters were ordered to
mount the cavalry horses and ride back.
The stages and wagons were ordered one
by one to move on with COW, YOU" and
a persuasive gesture of the rifle. They
moved on. Ine men ON horses rode back
and informed the advance guard of SOL
diers. They hurried forward, but prac-
tically unarmed, since their weapons were
not loaded. They were held off until
KID made his escape, leaving the ex-
press box unopened, box containing
clothing for disguise, cartridges and
field glasses. From three stages the
robber collected about $3.50.
Except bag and bit Of paper on
which was printed in lead pencil: "The
Black KID and written, 'The Lone High
wayman," he left no trace.
Among the passengers robbed was Pro-
fessor Benjamin Ide Wheeler, president of
the University of California.
Major Rucker and Captain E. E. Will
cox, in command of 81 men of Troop +,
Sixth cavalry, from the Preside, were
close behind, en- route to the Yosemite
National park.