The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-13

sengers in their efforts to warn head quarters and set the entire machinery of the law at work in the expectation of lo- eating the thief. On the way home to Montana the messengers met the stage driver who had handled the ribbons the day of the robbery Thinking that he had been in the conspiracy to rob the coach. some of the officers and employees of the company made the accusation and rope was placed around his neck and he was hanged to a rafter in the effort to make him confess. He knew nothing and all the torture meted out to him failed to make him say a word that would im- plicate anyone. The stock tender was also under suspicion, but nothing could be proved against him. and he was per mitted to work on as usual, which he did, quitting tlr~ftob a few months afterward. after interest in the affair had partially died out.
 Among the Montana officers called in to work on the case was x. Biedler. the famous old peace officer and vigilante of pioneer days in Montana It was general ly conceded that the robbery took place in the Ryan canyon, but at just what point the officers had not the least idea Bied- Ter soon became convinced that the gold had been buried in the Beaverhead river, and he patrolled the banks and willows for nearly every foot between the mouth of the canyon and the mouth of Sheep creek, where the old stage road left the river. One day while at Watson postoffice he received word that an iron bound box had been discovered in the bottom of deep fish hole in the river near Greylng station, some ten or twelve miles away. He nearly ran his horses to death in his eagerness to get to the point, and when he did get there he found that his inform ation was correct for. as the stream was as clear as crystal, the box was plainly in sight, and it looked for all the world like treasure box. Securing long pole Biedler poked at the box for a long time. in the hope that he could dslodge it and cause 1t to float to the surface. But 1t would not budge in spite of his repeated punchings x. was now more confident than ever that the box contained the stolen treasure and he was determined to recover it at all hazards.
 Day Was Cold.
 The day was a bitterly cold one and much ice was floating in the river This did not deter the hardy old plainsman for a minute. He stripped to the skin with the intention of diving Into the icy water and bringing the box to the surface. Tie ing a long rope to his waste he bade his companions hold tight to it. and, in case he got chilled or cramped to draw him ashore. Then he dived Tor the bottom or the hole after the treasure box. Four times he made the dive. only to fail in his attempt to loosen it. Finally he took the rope from around his waist. made slip moose in one end of it and dived again. This time he was fortunate enough to place the loop around the box, and when he returned to the surface the box was carefully raised to the surface and lowed to the shore by his companions.
 IL. Il found to greatly resemble a treasure box, and it had been wrapped around and around with baling wire. It was as heavy as man could conveniently lift and every one of the party gathered around K, as he, still naked. broke the wires with sharp