Year: 1865




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RoBBERY.-On Friday last, near the
summit of Trinity Mountain. on the Weaver
vile road, the most successful SINGLE handed
robbery we have heard of took place Three
teams returning from Weaverville, viz -
Rawson's driven by man whose name we
could not learn was ahead. followed by Van
Winkle and Jerome Fay. Rawsons team
had got considerably in advance, so far as to
be out of sight. As Van Winkle, closely
followed by Fay, got near the top of the
mountain. man stepped out into the road
close to Van, who was sitting on his saddle
mule. drew revolver. and placing it near
Vans head, coolly remarked that he wanted
his money. Van, who is not of nervous
temperament, replied that he had none
Whereupon the " agent" advanced his pistol
closer and said +" You are id lying s.
of b; come out" Van then replied that
the :. agent" might have what he had and
put his hand into the pocket of his pants as
if to get the money, at the same time throw
ing his leg forward over bis mule, thinking
that if he could land himself on the ground
without being shot, he would give the
agent" tusse rather than tamely submit
The agent" anticipated Vans strategy
advanced the pistol closer to his head and
pulled trigger. Fortunately for Van, the cap
alone exploded, and for the robber it was
sufficient, for it convinced Van that the ras-
cal was in earnest-that the game was re-
duced to ''your money or your life, and be
passed over to the enterprising cuss Sl75 of
hard earned money.


Fay meanwhile had witnessed a portion of
the situation, he threw his money into the
chapparel, and made tracks down gulch,
seeing which the robber, having no other
business to detain him, travelled up over the
mountain, away from the road, and from
those with whom he had been SO pleasantly
Ito himself) engaged


Scarcely had Van and Fay got started on
their journey, wiser if not better men. than
the driver of Rawson's team came running
back, exclaiming, in anything but pleased
tone Of voice, that he had been robbed Van
coolly replied that he had none the best of
him.


1t appeared, upon explanation. that Raw
sons man had been taken in and done for
at the same place, and sent forward by the
same agent" Neither of the teamsters had
a weapon Of any kind, and were taken COM
petely by surprise. If Fay had dropped
behind little further he, too would have
been forced to contribute to this enterprisng
(" Turpin." The aggregate of his collec.
tions amounted to Sl75 from Van. and $50
from Rawsou's man; total, S225. 1t is
pretty safe to bet that Van, at least. will not
be easily robbed again on that road. He's
mad Van says Fay made better time down
the gulch while the agent" was relieving
him Of his coin, than any quarter horse he
ever saw run.


The robber was dressed in black coat.
closely buttoned up; he had on a black hat,
Will q Gin tlSd uDNI over IIe
hat and under his chin. and so arranged as
to cover the chin TO the mouth, leaving the
mouth, nose and eyes exposed. Eyes quite
light, eyebrows sandy. Van says he was the
coolest cuss he ever saw that he held his
pistol on him without a trem5le. and after
bursting the cap at Vans head, he recocked
the pistol and brought it to bear on him in
such manner as to convince him that he
meant mischief, as he exclaimed Damn
you, I'll kill you any way" Van says he
did some tall begging right there, telling the
"agent'-" You have got all my money
now don't, for God sake, take my life p
'Agent" relented and told him to go; and
at the word he made time, leaving his hal
and gloves in the road. Van is pretty sure
that on or about ;hat time he was consider
ably excited.