Year: 1879

>'AA OSSAA
be useless weapons. We reached our
journey end without further interruption.


The Tom Bell gang was for many wears
the terror of the mountain districts, and
many tales are told of their lawless deeds.
NY father was interested in the building
OF the Bonner Lake wagon road, and in
an encounter with this gang managed by
strategy to save large sum of money
ne was travelling on horseback, and car
rled some OF the money in belt and a
portlon IN his boots. He was accompan-
led by friend whose route lay with his
portion of the way, but to him he did
not confide the fact that he was CARVING
any considerable sum OF money, as his
friend was naturally timid man and he
did not care to add to the fears which al
ready possessed him. About ten miles
from their destination their roads divided.
the friend going to the place where the
Worklngmen were quartered, and nv fa-
ther to the house of a friend where he in


tended to pass the night He iogeed
along leisurely for while or more, and,
as 1t was now about six in the evenino
was thinking of fastening his steps in
order to reach his stopping place before
aark' not expecting any trouble in day
hght' when nc was suddenly joined by a
horseman: The civilities of the dav were
exchanged, and they rode on together,
converslng upon topics of current
interest, wolk On the road, mining
III the neighborhood, etc. At length
the stranger asked carelessly where he.
was gong, and asked if he was not Mr.
the conductor. Papa said he was not.
out that they came up together, and they
had separated few miles back. At the
next by-path the stranger left him. and
ne learned that his friend had been sur
sounded by road agents, and all his pro-
testations would not make them believe
that the right man had gone the other
way. 1t seems they had desert ption of
the man they wanted and of the road he
was expected to go, but the GOODNESS of
his denial and his going another way,
coupled with the fact that his friends
description was in some respects similar.
threw them off the track. AS this gang
vera robbers and not murderers, probab-
ly saved the other mans life. for at that
time h1ghwaymen We're known to have
murdered men simply because they had
no money. A poor teamster on the
mountains was once stopped by couple
OF men and his money demanded but
when they found he had none, they con-
tented themselves with both kicking him
heartily and cursing him Tor a deceitful
oeggar tor travelling without money.


One OF my relatives, brother-in-law,
member OF San Francisco commercial
mouse, has often said he would submit to
beng robbed without resistance, but
would be certain to shoot any man who
attempted it. He always travelled we'll
armed, and fortunately never met with
any robbers until three years ago. He
had some heavy collections to make
through tbs Southern part of California.
ana IN one town where he stopped had
several firms to call upon. AS he came
out OF one place where he had called, he
saw man standing at the door, but did
not think of it again until he saw him
at a second place he visited. He had
been conversing with a member of the
firm, and SAID among other things that
he had taken a buggy to go to several
small towns IN the Vicinity and would be
back in two or three days; that he was
then going to the livery stable for his
team. Just as he turned to leave the
store, the same man passed out before
nm. On his way to the livery stable he
stopped at Wells, Fargo g. Co.'s express
Office, as was his custom, and sent his
coin to San Francisco. A few hours after
leaving town he found himself on
pleasant but lonely forest road, and the
day being warm, he was beg ginning to
enjoy the coolnes Of the shade, when the
horse suddenly stopped, and refused to
move. The rest I will tell as nearly as
possible in his own words:


''As raised my head to see what was
the matter, was met square in the face
by the barrel of pistol. l had looked
into many one before, but this was the
first one [ had seen with hole in it
large enough to crawl into. Threw up
your hands,: AS the lines were hanging
on the dashboard, had nothing to hin
der me doing it at once, which did,
ike little man. The fellows pal then
went through me, and while doing so, if
my arms dropped little, 'Higherr was
the sharp order, and up they would 90 as
high as 1 could reach. had only thirty
dollars, which seemed to surprise them,
as they thought I had the money thew
had seen me collecting; so they cursed
me and their luck, looked at nv watch
to see the time, examined my weapons
and put them all back in their places.
said that was a nice diamond ring for
poor man to wear, but did not take it,
saying they only wanted money, as in
these times such things always gave a
fellow away. They then told me to sit
down, gave me the lines, and said if I
looked back before I reached the next
house they would blow my brains out.
I didn't look back"


When he came home, he walked into
the house and laid his pistols down, say
ing he would never carry them again.
When asked why, he said, ''Twas Of no
use to carry weapons" and told the story
I have just related.


1t is related of Joaquin Murieta, the
famous bandit chiet, that one aay after
one of his most daring exploits, he rode
up. to saloon in mining camp, went in
and drank with the crowd, and heard his
own story told over and over again bv
the excited thlsng, and what they would
do it they ever met him. He asked if
they had ever seen him. None of them
had, but they could all describe "the
numbering greaser," and would be glad
to meet him-the sooner the better. Joa-
quin then ordered drink, went to the
door and mounted his horse, rode I'D to
the bar, leaned down and took the glass,
drank to the crowd, tossed the glass on
the floor, and as quick as lightning drew
mis- revolver, dashed his spurs into his
horse, and shouted back them, :Cerraio
Americana! Here is JOa011in Mur1eta y,