Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-06-28


This thing of helping girls to marry
other fellows seemed to give him bad
taste in his mouth.
Hodges came to California in 1858,
continuing his profession as stage
driver, and in time was giver the IA
nous Placerville road, running from
Sacramento through Placerville to Vir-
ginia City, New. On this road he
drove the mail and express coaches.
and on many Of the trips carried treas
ure amounting to 100000. AS a re-
suit he was made the victim of half a
dozen of the greatest holdups in the
history of the Pacific coast.
The plan Of the robbers Invariably
was to kill the nigh horse and then
prevent an escape. II they failed to
do this Hodges would sweep his long
lash across the backs of his beasts
and be Off in cloud of dust, leaving
the dumfounded robbers gazing blank
ly at each other. For this reason he
was valuable as driver. When they
have you." he explained, pull up and
take 1t easy; but If they leave you
an opening, then make for It'll"
One day on the Bodie road in Ne
vada, between Bodie and Carson, the
treasure box was laden and the coach
well filled with passengers. There were
guards outside and In, and a daring
gun messenger was perched on the
box beside the driver. The strong de-
tense gave the passengers sense OF
security, and one of them, a woman,
started to while away the hours by
singing. Romance was in the air. The
carolling of the girl awoke response
in the nerves Of the guards and their
guns lay negligently upon their knees.
Suddenly the concert was brought to
an abrupt halt by the resounding re-
port of a slug-loaded shotgun. Down
went the nigh leader. The other horses
plunged and the shock nearly unseated
driver and messenger. Even the high
waymen were astonished at the in
slant result of the shot, and hesitated
for a fraction of minute, and in that
time the messenger fred. One of the
robbers prying at the lock of the treas
ure box dropped, while the other took
to the brush.
Many Times Held Up.
On the famous Geiger grade, about
four miles from Virginia City. Billy
faced the rifles of six bandits, and
the treasure box was dynamited, the
robbers carrying away more than
$4,000. Again he was stopped near
Virginia City. This was in 1865, and
in Six-Mile canyon below the Gould
and Curry mill. The team was forced
to stop. owing to barricade of old
sluice boxes which the bandits had
placed across the road. The five des-
peradoes robbed all the passengers
save one, a pretty schoolma'am.
By the beginning of 1884 he had
saved up considerable money and de-
cided to quit the highway. He had
made money on the side by taking or
ders from ranchers. as did his associ-
ate drivers. Frequently, he said. his
| hat was filled with memoranda, en-
bracing orders from case of rum to
piece of blue ribbon.
simultaneously with his quitting the
road he bought the Mount Hamilton
stage line. running from San Jose
to the mountain. Not long after this
he was commissioned to haul the great
36-inch lens to the observatory. The
wagon was especially built for the trip
and the delicate glass was placed in an
oaken casket, the whole thing weigh.
ing 800 pounds. Later, upon the re.
moval Of the body of James Lick from
the vault in San Francisco. he hauled
the coffin up to Mount Hamilton. and
was present when the body was sealed
In the sarcophagus beneath the i'm
mense telescope.
He tells many anecdotes of the
men he has known and associated with
J both famous and notorious drivers and