Gilpin observer., 1918-07-04
GUARD SHOT ONCE
md He Admits That the Mules
Did the Rest.
Things Happened 90 Rapidly That
Hoidup Men Really Didn't Have q
Chance to Take Aim, While
Team Made q Record.

Even today In the Sierra Nevadas
where little mining camps send out
gold dust by stage to be carried from
the nearest railway station to the San
Francisco mint a shotgun messenger
rides with the driver II there is gold
shipment In the box. The barrel of
the gun is shortened for the sake Of
convenience In handling In close quar-
ters, and its efficiency for its particu-
lar work is not lessened, as 1t is used
only to quiet a robber who has sud-
denly appeared close by the side of
the treasure stage with the laconic
command, Throw down the box!"
The messenger, as he is called where
ne Is known, never guard or gun man,
carries his gun across his knees where
danger seems light, or lightly in his
hands passing through bad spots. His
job is to shoot anyone so careless as
to step out from behind tree or rock
to the side Of the stage, and shoot
before the intruder gets the drop.
Mountain folk who want to take a
stage between stations make them
selves conspicuous in the middle of
the road before the stage rolls into
sight. That is the safe way.
II messenger fails to see a rob-
Der before the latter has him covereds
the box Is thrown down-usually.
There was one instance where the rule
was not followed, which old stage driv-
ers in the Sierra Nevadas tell about to-
day. On stage out from Bodie was
a shipment of bullion consigned to
the Carson mint. The messenger was
alert, his sawed-off shotgun lightly bal
anced in his hands passing the danger
spots. or resting on his knees where
the cover seemed to be too thin to
conceal a robber by the side of the
road.
On one good stretch the messenger
gripped his gun between his knees
while both hands sought in the pockets
of his heavy coat for the makings. The
unexpected happened; out Of a patch
of straggly sage brush two men leap
ed, one to the bride of the off leader
mule, one to the of. side of the stage,
They had the drop on both messenger
and driver.
"Throw down the boxi !" commanded
the man at the fore wheel of the stage.
The messenger thought one-quarter
of second-he was precise IN telling
that part Of the story-and then with
out having to invite bullet by NOV
ing his gun or hand, he pulled the
trigger Of the right barrel. So many
things happened in the remaining
three-quarters Of the first second af-
ter the command that they make a
long and lovely story as one listens to
an old driver tell it today.
The short Of the story is that the
shot shredded the ears of the leaders.
and generally speaking those mules
did the rest. The six mules bounded
ahead, startled and indignant. The
robber at the bride was kicked In rap
Id succession by the of leader, of
swing and OF wheeler SO his pistol
aim was not good, and the robber at
the stage wheel was run over by the
rear wheels, and his aim was not good.
The six mules, the driver has sworn
to this, did the next mile in four min
utes fiat, and there was no time when
more than two stage wheels were on
the road at the same time.
ut was sure some lucky escape"
the messenger admitted, "but 1 never
truly made up with them lead. mules.
They never seemed to relish me after
that little sawed-off spoke to them.
Touchy sort Of critters, mules is, any
how"