The San Francisco call., 1905-08-18
Coach Halted on
the Halfnoon
Bay Road.
Bandit Fires on
a Man Who
Drives Up.
Collects Booty
and Makes
Escape.
Special Dispatch to The can.

-
REDWOOD CITY. Aug. H.-One Of the
most daring stage robberies in the his
tory Of the State and one without parallel
in this part of the country occurred this
morning three miles from San Mateo and
about twenty miles from San Francisco.
The stage which operates between San
Mateo and Halfmoon Bay was halted by
lone htgh~ayman on the steep grade
near the Crystal Springs dam and, at the
point Of revolver. the driver Of the
stage and the affrfghted passengers
were forced TO deliver their personal
valuables and TO throw into the road the
strong boxes of Wells-Fargo & Co.. and a
commercial firm of HalfmoOn Bay.
The robber won but little of value for
his desperate deed and fortunately no
one was injured, although the highway
man fired three shots at passing driver
of a team who unwittingly Interrupted
the knight of the road in his work
The affair has created intense excite
ment throughout the county and two well
organized posses. lead by Sheriff Mans
field of this city, are securing the hills
for the bandit. Wells-Fargo detectives
are on the scene, but as very poor de-
scription of the robber has been obtained
from the occupants of the stage the PROS
pect of an early capture IS not brilliant.
The stage had left San Mateo at an
early hour and had gone as far as the
Crystal Springs dam Five passengers
I and the driver. Edward Campbell, COM
pTised the party. On the seat with the
driver was o. Olsen. a travelling man em-
ployed by Langley & Michaels Of san
Francisco. On the inside of the coach
were Miss A Johnsan and j. c. Santos
of HalfmCon Bay and Peter Julie and
Ralph Roosen Of San Francisco. In the
care Of the driver were the money box
of Wells-Fargo & Co. and a private box
| ID.
ORDERS DRIVER TO HALT.
Just at the turn of the road near the
old Smith toll gate, where the cliff de-
scends precipitately hundred feet from
the road, a masked highwayman stepped
into the road and with Ieveled revolver
shouted the command to halt. The order
was obeyed with alacrity. The robber
called to the driver to throw the mail
sack and the Wells-Fargo box into the
road. Campbell obeyed as far as the
boxes were concerned, but hesitated 20
giving up the mail pouch. An oath from
the bandit and a threatening lingering Of
his pistol brought the desired sack into
the road.
Partly recovered from their terror, the
passengers had an opportunity to observe
the robber. He was short. probably five
feet seven inches in height, thick set,
weighing about one hundred and eighty
pounds and was palpably disguised as to
dress. He wore long black overcoat,
blue overalls and tight-htting black
cap. His face was effeetually concealed
by black handkerchief
When the mail sack and the boxes
had been thrown into the road the
robber commanded Santos to pass
around his hat among his fellow pass
engers and not to forget himself in the
contribution. Santos understands Eng
lish imperfectly and was slow TO COM
ofa Nd
dent intention to use It proved stimu-
| lus to Santos and his hat came Off
without further delay. While the en-
forced donation TO the thief was in
progress and Santos was wondering
how he was going to keep SOS he had
in his pocket team, rapidly driven,
turned the bend in the road.
FIRES UPON INTRUDER.
The highwayman. who had started
toward the stage to collect his booty.
turned quickly and. leveling ais re-
volver at the unfortunate interloper.
fred. The bullet missed its mark and
the driver OF the team. E Bertelotte,
jumped from his seat and ran toward
the hill. The robber contented himself
with firing two more futile shots ar the
fleeing man and then turned his at
tention to his prisoners in the stage.
With a volley OF oaths he ordered
the driver to move on and not to look
behind at the peril OF his life. The
order was strictly obeyed. but the high
wayman was not to enjoy the inspec-
tion of his prizes In peace. In a short
time another team came into view and
this time the robber took fright He
/ had opened the boxes and abstracted
all there was OF value IN them He was
rifiing the mail pouch when inter
rupted. Leaving the boxes behind he
broke and ran, taking the mall sack
with him
The alarm was at once given and
posses were organized IN this city and
at San Mateo. Sheriff Mansfield led
l the party from here. but as yet no
clew OF the robber has been obtained
j. W. Thacker of the Wells-Fargo Com
pany is here rendering whatever as
: sistance his long experience Is able to
| suggest He, as well as Superfntend-
l ent Woods of the WelIs-Fargo Com
pany. declares that the narauder found
nothing of value in the strong box OF
/ the company, as large sums of money
are seldom carried and never on the
( early morning stage Levy Brothers
make the same assertion in reference
/ to their loss. 1t would appear from
| this that the desperate thief had very
little to reward him for his escapade-
I This is the second stage robbery in
! the history of San Mate0 County and
4 the first under such exceptional condi
tions. The crime Of to-day was COM