The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-30

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sought out one or two companions
and became the leader of a little
band of skillful outlaws.
OF all the men he met in Michigan
Miner found only enc whose spirit
matched his own. This was a farm
hand named Stanton 7. Jones. When
Miner returned to the West Jones
went with him.
Early in the spring Of 1881 Miner
and Jones again stopped the Del
Norte stage and cleaned out the
money chest and got away to the
fastnesses of the mountains. Al
though he was masked, the driver OF
the stage was positive in his irdenti-
fcation of Miner. Posses immedi.
ately started after the two bandits,
but Miners cunning was greater than
that Of the officers and the chase was
fruitless.
Soon after the eecond Del Norte
stage hold-up third desperate join
ed Miner and Jones. His name was
James East and his career was as
short as it was violent.
Having eluded the deputy sherilfs
who were seeking them Miner and
his two companions started on horse
back for California. They had stol"
en- their horses. For their living
they depended upon the farmers. Up
through Marshall's Pass toward Sag
uche the three bandits made their
way, stealing fresh horses whenever
the ones they were riding became
worn out and rob5ing systematically
as they rode, and leaving wake OF
furious farmers, stockmen and min
ers.
So bold was their trip and so wide
spread their depredations That the
entire country was aroused. A posse
CT determined men was organized
and in the hills near Villa Grove a
pitched battle was fought, which re-
suited in the capture Of all three out
laws.
Life Imprisonment stared the cap
tives in the face. Their captors were
determined that they should be
brought to justice. The nearest pris-
on stout enough to hold them secure
" was back at Del Norte, and for
there they started. To make escape
impossible the three men were tied
together with balipg wire and thrown
into a blackboard wagon. All day
long the calvacade marched back
through the country over which the
outlaws had previously ridden rough
shod. TIL. irst n ght's camp was to
be at Wagon Wheel Gap.
It was a little after 1 o'clock IN
the morning. The outlaws, still
bound together with the heavy wire,
were supposed to be asleep. Their
guards, heavy-e ed, sat surrounding
them, rifles within reach. SO far
as the members Of the posse knew
the captives had not an opportunity
to exchange a single word beyond
the hearing of a. least one of the
guards. Suddenly the quiet of the
camp was broken. The three hud-
died figures of the stage robbers
sprang to their feet. Silently and
unnoticed they had broken the wire
that bound them. secured single
revolver and were prepared to fight
for their freedom or die in the at
tempt.
The fight was sharp and orle1.
Completely thrown off their guard,
the members ot tie posse were SLOW
to realize what was taking place.
Before they quite regained their fac
ulties two of their number lay
wounded on the ground and the out
laws were disappearing in the dark
ness
Miner and Jones escaped. East
was recaptured, taken to Del Norte
and sent to Jail f.: long term.
Having lost one of his gang, Miner
added another to his party and on
November Z, 1881, reappeared IN
California after all absence of twelve
years, held up the stage that IAN
from Sonora, Tuolumne County, to
Milton, and secured $4,000 in cash
and gold dust.
Two OF the gang were quickly
caught; Miner n .naged to elude the
officers for sever | weeks, but was
finally run to ea \. The trial was
brief and justice severe. The three
robbers we're sent to San Quentin
prison for twenty-five years.
Out of Jail no more desperate char
acter lived thar "Old Bill Miner.
In prison he was a model. 1t WAS
through no fault Of his that he
aroused the emily Of another con-
vict, Bill Hicks, who almost killed
him.
1t was 1901, twenty years later,
before "Old Bill Miner could again
breathe the air a free man. r.!
good behavior he cut his sentence
five years, and the authorities be-
lieyed that when he walked aut OF
San Quentin his days as an outlaw
were ended.
It was different world which
Miner found when he left prison.
The stage coach had given way 10
the railroad. Where there had bacn
wilderness in the days when the name
"California Billy" brought terror to
the hearts of stage drivers and trav-
ellers, there was now thickly settled
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