Although at present there is as much safety and security to person and property in the Black Hills as in any country on the frontier, yet there was a time when, tempted by the heavy shipments of gold dust and bullion via the stage lines, highway robberies by armed men were frequent. Road agents, as they were called, stopped nearly every unguarded coach which passed between Cheyenne and Deadwood; and it became necessary to have every treasure coach strongly guarded. Express rates on bullion and gold dust consequently became very high. Most of the bullion produced in the Black Hills is shipped to New York via Sidney and the Union Pacific Railroad, and the charges are one and one-half per cent., equal to fifteen dollars on every one thousand dollars. Of this amount the stage companies receive one per cent, and the railroad company the balance. For a long time no treasure has been shipped except by special coach, sent twice a month, guarded by eight armed men, besides two others who ride at a distance ahead of the coach, and two behind also. These men never rest or sleep until they have reached their destination at Sidney. The coaches carry nearly two hundred thousand dollars each trip.
Stage Robberies.
Only one .treasure coach has ever been robbed, and that was only guarded
by two messengers, and contained but twenty-five thousand dollars. This
amount was taken, but eighteen thousand dollars of it was afterward
recovered and two of the robbers captured. During the early spring, in 1878,
several coaches on both the Cheyenne and Sidney route were robbed in quick
succession. On the 26th of June, 1878, the treasure coach above mentioned
was attacked near the Cheyenne River. After the exchange of a few shots,
which wounded the driver, the highwaymen won a complete victory over the
messengers.
The passengers were all ordered out and placed in line alongside of the road, and compelled to hold up their hands, with the muzzles of cocked revolvers pointed at their faces, while one of the robbers searched their pockets and baggage for valuables. Failing to unlock the treasure-box, and not being able to break it open with hatchets, it was proposed to abandon it, until one hit upon the plan of blowing it open with gunpowder. This happy thought was quickly put into execution, and in less time than it takes to write it, the box was blown open, and the plethoric purses of gold dust extracted, after which the coach was allowed to pass on.
On the 1st of July, in the same year, while the Cheyenne coach was passing near the same place, in the night, two men raised up suddenly at the side of the coach and demanded it to halt. One ran ahead and stopped the leaders, and ordered the passengers to alight. All obeyed. After reaching the ground the men stood in line, with one road agent behind as a guard, with a gun and two revolvers. The other robber began at the opposite end of the line, from which a man named Flynn stood, and commenced going through the passengers. When he had reached the man standing second from him, Flynn whispered to his nearest comrade to look after the unarmed robber and he would attend to the guard behind, and suiting the action to the word, drew a pistol and fired, the robber dropped to the ground, and almost immediately Flynn received a shot in the face, after which he ran around behind the coach and hid in the bushes, the robber firing at him all the time, and he returning the shots. The driver whipped up and drove on, but soon returned with two men and took aboard the passengers, two of whom were wounded the robbers escaped. On the 25th of the same month, before daybreak, the stage was again stopped near Hat Creek by six armed men, who were on foot and masked. Finding there was but one passenger on board, and that he was a preacher, they forebode molesting him, but turned their attention to the mail-sacks, which they cut open and robbed of registered letters and other valuable matter. They also broke open the treasure-boxes, but found nothing.
They were not at all excited over their work, which occupied them a full half hour, and as soon as they were through they ordered the driver to go on. About the 13th of September, near the same place, the coach was fired into and a man with a mask, from a distance, ordered the driver to have the passengers get out. There were two, a lady and gentleman, who very willingly complied with the request, and the man was ordered to hold up his hands, when his arms were securely tied behind him with a buckskin string. The captain of the gang then told him he had taken a fancy to his over overcoat, and must have it, so the pinioned arms were relieved and the coat removed. His pockets were next searched, although he assured the robber that it was a foregone conclusion he was broke. Five dollars were, however, obtained. Two pocketbooks were examined, but nothing contraband being discovered, were handed back. The lady was next called upon, but responded very feebly only one dollar and a quarter. The investigation ended, both were ordered to forward march down the road, when, in a few minutes, about two hundred yards away, a sight for an artist met their gaze four men and one woman, shivering in the cold ; the hands of the men tied behind them, and crouching under the ghostly light of the lamp of the south-bound coach and the awe-inspiring glances of a double-barreled shot-gun.
The twain were ordered to stand a few feet away, and the rifling of the pockets of the southbound passengers began. The messenger was the first to be overhauled, and a shot-gun, watch and chain, valued at one hundred and fifty dollars, and two pistols, overcoat and fifteen dollars in cash were taken. Another man gave up ten dollars, but the bandits, dissatisfied, wanted his boots, and asked what size they were. He replied by sitting down on the grass and holding his foot aloft, while the captain placed his against it, but found that a difference of several sizes existed. Another passenger was rifled, but did not return a satisfactory amount, as the petulant looks and grumbling tones of the agents evinced. Lastly, they approached a lady of the south-bound coach and took from her fingers several valuable rings, including her wedding-ring. For this she plead and begged, and upon her knees asked that the little trinket be returned to her; but supplication was unavailing, the ruffian gruffly informed her that a wedding-ring was as good for him as her. Before leaving, the driver yielded to the solicitations of the gang, and gave up six- dollars in money and a silver watch. The treasure-boxes of both coaches were broken open, but nothing but envelopes found. The work of plundering being finished, the captain ordered a subordinate to level his gun upon the party, while he went around the bluff and got the horses, which he hitched near by. Two robbers covered the passengers with their rifles, while a third mounted his horse, returned and leveled his rifle until the second could secure his animal, and so on until all were mounted ; they then bade the passengers good-night and rode away. When about one hundred yards distant, the captain discharged his weapon in the air, probably as a signal. One of the men's arms were released before the ruffians left, and he and the ladies untied the other passengers. Several of the party congratulated themselves that a more thorough search was not made, as one had ten dollars under the lining of his hat, another a substantial roll concealed in his coat-sleeve, and the lady one hundred and ninety dollars within her stocking, under her foot. Two days later, the villains again attacked and robbed two coaches in the same locality. The north-bound coach left Hat Creek at nine o'clock in the evening, and had been out about two hours when, in the middle of a short, steep hill, the not unlooked for cry of "Halt" came. Below the coach and -lying upon their faces were four men, pointing each a business looking rifle; one directing his to the lead horses, another to the driver, while the other two were trained upon the coach.
The spokesman asked the driver, "How many passengers have you ?" receiving the answer, "Two, a lady and gentleman." "Get out and hold up your hands." The command was obeyed by the gentleman, but the lady was allowed to retain her seat. The gentleman was approached and asked, "How much money have you ?" He replied, "Thirty dollars." The highwayman said he would take one-half of it, but by advice of his comrades compromised with ten dollars, giving that back when he ascertained that his victim was a laboring man, with the words, "We don't want to molest the passengers, but must have the treasure." They next asked for eatables, and the driver produced a box of fruit in reply, which was broken open and a good portion devoured, the ruffians offering the passengers a share.
The mail-sacks were handed down, and one cut open and one found unlocked. Their contents were poured out upon the ground, sorted over and returned to the pouches. The gentleman's trunk was taken off the rack, but not broken open. The driver was then ordered to go on, and meeting the south-bound coach in about two hours, he informed the outriders of the adventure of his coach a few hours before. When the south-bound coach reached the same spot it was also stopped. There were two passengers in this coach and two messengers following about two hundred yards behind on horseback. As soon as the coach was halted, the messengers dismounted and approached within fifteen steps of the thieves, one of whom called to them, "Halt' accompanying his command with a shot. One of the messengers returned the shot, killing the thief who had fired. The remaining highwaymen at this moment began firing at the messengers and retreating toward the gulch close by, to which point the messengers could not follow. The coach, meantime, had been ordered to go ahead by the thieves, who had succeeded in robbing one passenger and in securing the mail-sacks before the fight began. The messengers held their ground for half an hour after the firing ceased, but could not reach the place where the mail-sacks and the dead robber lay, and not being in sufficient force to dislodge the thieves, they mounted their horses and joined the coach. Besides the robber who was shot dead, it is known that two others were badly wounded. Both the messengers escaped unhurt. It was learned from the passengers, that the reason the money was returned to the gentleman, was because upon being asked by the captain what his business was, he relied, "A working man.” At this period nearly every outgoing coach was stopped, and travelers expected to be halted, and were obliged to adopt the plan of carrying very little money or valuables with them. The road agents found on the person of a passenger one night a cheap watch, and besides refusing to take it, ridiculed him for carrying such a timepiece. At one time the robbers got only fourteen dollars from six passengers, and remarked that it was d-d strange that folks traveled with so little money about them. One of the passengers replied," That none but fools would carry money, knowing they were sure to lose it." Hence it soon became unprofitable business for the road agents, and it soon became also accompanied with too great risk to pay them to follow it. The messengers became more bold, and several of the highwaymen were killed, others were captured by the sheriff and posse, so that finally the business was entirely broken up and no further molestation occurred.
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