The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-07-09
Early Stage Day Holdups

When the passengers in the old
coaching days found themselves in
clutches Of the road agents they in
stinctively hurried, during the short
time that driver and guard were be-
ing put in proper state Of help
lessness, to secret money and valua-
bles in the first safe place that
suggested ITSELF" said veteran COL
orado mining man. But such
precautions were useless, for there
was small time and smaller oppor-
tunity Of place to hide anything in
a mere shell Of a coach. II a man
was found without money, they
stripped him and searched the stage
as well.
The experience Of Pat Clohesy, an
old time mining man Of Colorado. is
historic. One afternoon he took the
stage from Silver Cliff Camp, bound
for the railroad, sixty miles away. In
the coach were dozen other passen-
gers, none of whom knew him. As
they reached the narrowest part Of
the gorge that leads out of Wet
Mountain valley loud command oil
Hold up your hands!' brought the
stage to sudden standstill and every
passenger in it to swift realization
that unless quick action was taken he
would go broke. One crammed his
wad Of bills down his boot leg; an
other thrust his roll down the back
Of his neck; third took off his hat,
put his wallet inside and set it back
on his head. Every man Jack o.
them attempted to secret his money
except Pat Clohesy, and Pat sat per.
fectly quiet.
In few moments a rifle barre
appeared at the window, and there
came the order, Hands up and al
out" Out the passengers tumblee
and stood in line with lifted hands
Pat at the far end. When the search
ing highwaymen went through thu
first man he found nothing. Irritat
ed at this, he started through tn,
second, with the same lack of success
Angry at this, the bandit turned te
his fellow robber, who stood cover
ing the line with his Winchester.
| They have been tryin' to hide
their stuff, d--n 'emr he explained
Well just make 'em strip and thel
we'll 60 through the stage. They'll
pay for putin US to all this trouble!
Then up spoke Pat Clohesy from
the far end Of the line. Gentlemen,
he said, addressing the highwaymen
| know you're in hurry, and
know I'm a poor miner with all m,
property in the world-just the 81.
I've got in my pocket. II you'll
leave me that little roll. Ill tell 20,
where these other fellows have hid
den their swag, SOS you can collec
it quick and skip out. Is it a bar
gain?"
Sure, said the man with tn
guarding rifle. Fifteen dollars mean
nothing to the band compared to tn
risk" Well. said Pat, pointing t.
the first in line, that fellows none.
is stuffed down his right boot leg.
The hold-up investigated ant
drew forth plump roll Of bills fron
the boot leg. That next man. wen
on Pat, has got his money hid unde
the hind seat in the stage. Til
bandit found a fat wallet stuffe'
under the cushion. The next ha
got his money in his hat, and tn
next crammed his stuff down tn
back Of his neck, and the next,-Ps
went down the line Of them, Will
the highwayman drew forth none
from all manner of places. Swift
collecting their booty, they bundle
the passengers back in the coach. Sc
the driver and guard back on the
seats and told them to 90 ahead, no.
} however. before they had given p
twenty dollar bill and a hearty sla
,, Of thanks on his Irish back.
. THE storm that broke over HI
. head inside that coach after it ha
rolled safe distance from the bandi,
} threatened his very life before h
could get a hearing. Had it nc
been that the robbers had disarme