Year: 1879




Recently stage was stopped and the


passengers robbed some distance from Neva-


da. When the news reached that place


Sheriff K. B. Gentry rallied posse and


repaired in all haste to the scene Of the rob


berry. The posse consisted of Steve Ven


ard, James II. Lee, Albert Gentry and A.
W. Potter. An examination of the spot


showed that the robbers had turned out of
the road and gone down the river parallel


with it. Eenard and Lee got on the trail
Of the robbers and followed it over the


toughest of all imaginable ground for the
distance of mile and half. 1t was evil
dent which way the robbers went Lee


went hack to take the horses around to the


road at the crossing below, the rest Of the


Sheriff's party having previously gone in
that direction. Nenard, left aiOne, followed
the trail. He came TO Meyers Ravine, al
its debouchure into the Yuba. He saw that
the pursued had gone up the ravine to
crossing. He was alone in one Of the
widest and toughest of spots in that wild
and rough region. The hills hung steep
above Rocks, trees, brush and logs were
in profusion on every hand. Nenard was
armed with Henry rife. The waters OF
the ravine came tumbling down its steep
bed of bowlders. with rush and noise
which rendered no other sound audible.
The hero of the hour proceeded with eau
tion. \ huge rock arose twenty feet in
height in the midst of the muddy water;
other similar rocks surrounded it, alto
gether forming an island. A tree or two
grew upon the lower end of the island in
the midst of the rocks, their branches and
foliage partly covering the rocky rampant
above Below the island. at a few feet
distant, was a precipice of fifteen feet or
more, over which the waters Of the ravine
tumbed. Venard attempted to cross the
stream at the head Of the fall. He walked
on a short log to rock. Above him rose
the huge mass of granite, buttIessed in
front by two smaller rocks. Between these
latter was an alley which led up to the base
of the Titan. His position was such as to
look up the alley. At the base of the great
rock, Venard discovered the object of his
search. The leader of the gang was sitting
on the ground and in the act Of drawing his
revolver. Nenard instantly leveled his rifle
upon the rObber, who was not more than
twenty feet distant. At the same moment
he saw another of the gang pointing at him
over the edge of a rock There was no time
to change his aim. lie fired; the leader
fell back shot through the heart. The other
rObber attempted to shield himself further
behind a rock. leaving the point of his pis-
tol exposed over the top. The exposure
was fatal Nenard covered the spot with
his unerring Henry. No sooner did the
head of the robber peer above the rock than
his brain was pierced with bullet. There
was vet another. but he was not to be seen.
His pistol might at that moment be point
ing at Nenard. The latter, quick as thought,
clambsred up to the lair, to beard him in
his den. He found the treasure, took the
pistols from the dead, covered quickly the
former with earth and leaves, and proceeded
to hunt the missing robber. Crossing the
stream and ascending the steep mountain
beyond, he discovered the rObber running
up the acclivity, sixty yards or more ahead
Nenard fired and the robber fell. Another
bullet and the last robber rolled down tfe
Nenard now sought his COM
panions. They all proceeded to the scene
Of the tragedy, recovered the money, and by
two O'Clock Of the same day the Sheriff y
party deposited the cash with 4. ID. Towers.
W ellis Fargo & Co. 5 agent in this city.
After the Sheriff party had left Nevada,
Wells, Fargo & Co. offered a reward Of
3, 600. which was paid. The Company
also presented Steve Nenard with magni-
iicent Henry rifle, gold mounted and beau
tifully inscribed, and Governor Low ap-
pointed him on his staff, with the rank Of
Lieutenant Colonel, ''fOr meritorious ser
vices in the field. "