Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1901 — ROBBERS HOLD UP A STAGE. [ARTICLE]

ROBBERS HOLD UP A STAGE.

Male Pauensen Take to Bueh—Oatlaws Secure SI,OOO. Thursday afternoon robbers held up the Blue Mountain stage, near Glens Falls, N. Y., and secured SI,OOO in money and jewelry. Eight passengers were aboard, five men and three women. Two masked bandits, springing suddenly from the woods on the mountain side, shot down the leaders, who fell, tangling the wheel horses in the harness and throwing the driver, Bill Edridge, an old-time stage driver, in among the kicking horses. Four of the male passengers sprang from the stage as the shots were fired, and in spite of warning cries and shots fired in their direction escaped into the brush. One man, who had his wife with him, remained with the frightened women. While one highwayman covered the passengers with his rifle the other went through their pockets and collected money, diamonds and jewelry. The mail pouches were ripped open and in the presence of the scared passengers the highwaymen opened all letters and pocketed the cash. They then turned their attention to the express packages, which were piled upon the coach. These were opened, and several containing bills were taken away. The Calistoga and Clear Lnke stage in California was held up by a lone highwayman. The passengers, numbering twenty or more, were relieved of their money. The mail bags and express box were rifled. Four masked robbers, heavily armed, boarded a train early Thursday morning at Red Wing. Minn., and robbed between forty and fifty harvest hands of all they had in their possession. The robbery took nearly two hours, and during that time the crew was fast asleep in the baggage car and the engineer and fireman knew of nothing unusual going on. At Hastings the men left the train and the alarm was sounded.