The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-08-24

venture.
"Why, Mary" exclaimed Billy, cit
is impossible. I might take the re-
sponsibility of the mails and treas
ure, but you-no."
81 must co." said the girl, her
voice vibrating. II cannot stand this
any longer. Let me go, beg of you y
Time was running short and young
Hodges was not proof against the
girls insistence. The result was that
Mary Androes, setting west to join
her future husband at Los Angeles,
was taken on that memorable ride.
That she is living to-day is due to
the skilled driving and nerve Of Billy
Hodges.
The long whip caught the nigh
leader under the flank and the coach
ratified out into the open. Instantly
he was under a shower Of lead and
arrows and he replied by lashing
wheelers and leaders, sending the
coach careening down rocky ravine.
They plunged and the coach tipped
dizzily throwing the girl from side to
side like a ball of rags. But he held
on and so did she. On one occasion
the door swung open and she tore
her finger nails trying to close it..
With one delicate hand grasping the
leather hanger she sought to catch
the swinging door with the other and
bring it to position. Just at this
juncture the coach was tilted up hill,
throwing the heavy door back Sc
cnrely, so the frightened girl could
not bulge it. To increase her terror
an arrow flashed into the window
and stuck quivering into the cushion
opposite her. At last she fell in a
heap. on the floor.
'I got through" said Hodges, with
a gleam in his eyes as he told the
story "but-"
"The girl?"
s'Oh, she was landed in Los Ange-
les all right, and married-unfortu-
nately!" said the old man, in whom
this was the first romance.
Hodges came to California in 1858,
continuing as a stage driver, and in
time was given the famous Placer
vile road, running from Sacramento
through Placerville to Virginia City,
New. On this road he drove the mail
and express coaches and on many of
the trips carried treasure amounting
to 100000. AS result he was the
victim of half a dozen of the most GEL
ebrated holdups in the history Of the
Pacific coast.
One day on the Bodie road in Neva-
d., between Bodie and Carson, the
treasure box was laden and the coach
we'll filled with passengers. There
were guards outside and in, and a
daring gun messenger was perched
on the box beside the driver. The
strong defence gave the passengers
a sense of security, and one Of them,
a woman, started to while away the
hours by singing.
Romance was in the air. The carol
ing of the girl awoke response in the
nerve 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 slug loaded shotgun. Down
went the nigh leader. The other
horses plunged and kicked and the
shock nearly unseated the driver and
messenger. Even the highwaymen
were astonished at the instant result
of the shot and hesitated for the frac-
ton of a minute and in that time the
messenger fired. One of the robbers
prying at the lock of the treasure
box dropped, while the other took to
the DruSn.
Fourteen times Billy Hodges was
called to stand" He was the first
victim of the notorious Black Bart,
who began his operations at a point
near Reno. Hodges was clattering
along at good pace when the robber
stepped out from behind a rock,
pointing double barreled shotgun at
messenger and driver.
"If they shoot" cried Bart; "give
them a solid volley, boys!"
The guards, gazing round and
about them, saw a dozen rifle bar
rels peeping out from the bushes and
cheerfully held up their hands. Later
a ripple of laughter swept the State
when it was learned that Black Bart
hod uor1yod tho neatasf nf h1uffS the