Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1918-06-27
GUARD SHOT ONCE
And He Admits That the Mules
Did the Rest.
Things Happened So Rapidly Thai
Hsidup Men Really Didn't Have q
Chance to Take Aim, While
Team Made 9 Record.


Even today In the Sierra Nevadas
where little mining camps send out
gold dust By stage to be carried from
the neaFest railway station to the San
Efaneisco mint q shotgun messenger
rides With the driver q there IL gold
ahlNmsns N the box. The barrel OF
the xnn II shortened for the sake al
ntsAxAnlanna 10 ahahsIIinn o. close Qlisla
tetss and lts efficiency for It's particu-
lar WORK 10 not Iessened. az II Is nsed
only 70 quiet robber who has sud.
denly appeared close by the side Of
tbs treasure stage with the Iaconic
command. ~Throw down the boxi''
The messenger. a. be Il called where
he Il known. never guard OF gun man,
carries his gun across HIS knees where
danger seems light or lightly Ia his
hands passing through bad spots His
Job 10 to shoot anyone 80 cnrelesa as
70 step cut from behind tree or rock
TO the side OF the stage, and shoot
before this Intruder gets the drop.
Mountain folk who want 10 take q
stage between stations make them
selves conspicuous In the middle Of
the read before tho stage rolls into
sight That IL the safe way.
II . messenger falls 10 see q rob
her before the latter has him covered
the box IL thrown down-usuaiiy.
There WAS one Instance where the rule
was not followed. which OLD stage tiFfv.
ers IN the Sierra Nevadas tell about to-
dag. On q stage out from Bodle was
. shipment ot bullion consigned 10
the Carson mint. The messenger was
alert. his aawed-oif shotgun lightly bal.
anced IN his hands passing the danger
spots. or resting on hin knees where
the cover seemed 70 be too thin 10
conceal robber BY the side Of the
road.
On one good stretch the messenger
Rripped bic sun between his knees
whiis both hands sought In the pockets
Of hla heavy coat for the markings. The
unexpected happened; out Of a patch
OF strngRiy sage brush two men leap.
ed. one 10 the brifla OF thu or lender
mule. one 20 tho on side Of che stage.
Thsy had the drop on both messenger
and driver.
Throw down the Dor r. commanded
the man At tho fore wheel OF the stage.
The messenger thought one-quarier
Of sscond-he was precise IN telling
that part Of tho story--and then with.
out having 70 invite . bullet BY mov.
lng his gun or hand. he puIlad he
trigger 81 khe rimghk e~-,l u rnanv
= snsva 500 ,isssf III -.
Tires quarters az the llrHf auc0nu a..
ter ths command that they make 4
long and lovely story a. ono listens %
an Old driver tell Il today.
Ths short Of the story II that the
shot shredded the ears % the leaders
and generally speaking those mules
did the rest. The six mules bounded
ahead, startled and indignant. Tbs
robbef a. the Birdie was kicked 10 rap
VI succession by the on leader. on
swing and on wheeler. 40 his pistol
Him was Dot good, and the robber al
tffe stage wheel was run over By ths
rear wheels, and his aim was not good
Tire asx mules, the driver has sworn
10 tisia. did the next mile In four rain,
utea Dat. aud thero WAS no time when
more than two stage wheels were on
ths road 81 the same time
sTt was sure some lucky escape.
the messenger admitted. hut I never
truly made NJ with them lead mulsa
They never seemed 10 relish me after
that little Sawed-oR spoke TO them
Touchy sort Of critters. mules Ia. any.
how