The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-11-11
NEVER knew FEAR
First Acquired Fame a. Coach
Guard in 1867, and Added
to II Later By Routing
Train Robbers

Aaron Y. Ross, Dad" Ross. Hold
tne-Fort' Aaron he was v~ariouslv
called. and he was Familiarity known
throughout a large part of the West.
although he was born at Old Town.
Me-, this old guard Of stage-coach
days, who recently died in Ogden.
Utah, In the home of his daughter.
and surrounded by all Of his children.
Born In 1929, he fought the Indi-
ans n repulsed the attacks of rob-
oers ON his bullion car, in true 1922
movie manner. only, In his case, It
was the real thing, as the old man
who passed away quietly at ninety
three lived and moved and had his
being In some of the toughest spots
Of the rough West.
An issue of the wells-Fargo pub
hcation contains a brief sketch of the
career Of this old guard Of the early
stage-coach and pioneer railroad days
In 1856 he ven In q sailing vessel
to California. Later in the same year
he was looking for gold in Suffer
creek, and he followed mining as an
occupation in California, Oregon and
Idaho until 1867, when he became
stage driver and guard for the Wells
Fargo organization.
He was on his route between Fort
Benton and Sun river in 1857 when
rs Indians swooped down upon his
coach. Ross defended the treasure
and lives under his care with shotgun
and pistol. After q running battle of
several miles, the Indians withdrew
less five Of their number, who were
dead.
At another time an outlaw named
Baker, with his gang, rode up to the
coach at Silver Star, along the Stink
ing Water River route, and command
ed Ross to throw up his hands. Ross
answered with cold lead and the out
law and his companions retired, Sc
verely wounded. Aaron Ross also
had another encounter with a bandit,
this time accounting for Jack Davis.
In killing this well known highway
man. Ross saved the driver of his
coach. This was on an overland
stage route through Nevada.
In 1888 "Hold-the-Fort" Aaron
left San Francisco as guard of an ex-
press a containing $4,000 in gold
bullion. At Z o'clock In the morning
at Monticello. New, the train was at
tackled by a band of robbers who un-
coupled the other cars and ordered
the engineer to pull the express car
up the track.
Ross busted himself fortifying the
doors Of his car with boxes, trunks
and packages. Finally commanded
by Hayes. the leader of the gang. to
surrender, under threat of being
burned out Of the car II he didn't,
he said he'd see the gang in "a hot
ter place" than they would make by
burning the car before he'd surren-
der. At the end Of a five-hour battle
the old guard was still in possession
of the car and the treasure, although
the former was almost reduced to
kindling wood by the rain of bullets.
One robber was dead and three were
wounded. The gang retired. the train
was connected up and continued to
Ogden. The four remaining robbers
were captured south of Great Salt
Lake and were returned to Nevada
and given sentences ranging from 20
to 40 years.
One thousand dollars In gold was
given to Ross, who also received a
$3.50 watch, specially made. and en-
graved with his name and a brief
record of his deed, the award in rec
ognition of his bravery being accom-
panied by a letter of praise from the
general superintendent Of the Wells
Fargo organization.