Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1874 — BRIGANDAGE. [ARTICLE]

BRIGANDAGE.

An Armed Company of Bandits Surround a. Stage Near Hot Springs, Ar. kansas, and Rob the Passengers, and Commit Other Outrages. A band of brigands, perhaps the same that rode into Gape Girardeau last spring and deliberately walked into a bank, pointed a pistol at the cashier, and robbed the institution of several thousand dollars, and then deliberately rode out of town again before the people knew what was going on, have been making things lively recently near Hot Springs, Arkansas. There were one stage and two light road-wagons, or ambulances, engaged in conveying passengers to the Springs. At the Gaines Place, five miles this side of Hot ' Springs, the stages were stopped to water the stock. While watering, five men* rode tup, coming from toward Hot Springs, and passed bn by. Each man wore a heavy blue army overcoat, but none of them were masked. After going about half a mile, the men who had passed them at the Gaines Place rode up from behind and ordered the driver to stop or his head would be blown off. The stage was stopped, a pistol was pointed at those in the stage, and they were told to get out quick, accompanied by an oath. They got out, and, as they did so, were ordered to throw up their hands. Three men were in front of them with cocked pistols and another with a shot-gun, while on the other side of the stage was still another—all pointing their weapons toward the passengers and the driver. After getting the passengers out they made them form in a kind of circle, so that all of them could be covered by the pistols and gun. The leader then “went through” each passenger, taking all the watches, jewelryand money that could conveniently be found that were of specia I value. After getting through with tlie . passengers, they tore open several mail sacks in search of registered letters, but did not get any. While the main party was engaged in this work, another took out the best horse in the coach, saddled him, rode up and down the road about fifty yards two or three times, and remarked that “he would do.” Governor Burbank, of Nevada, "ho was one of the passengers, asked them to return his papers, saying they could be of no benefit to them. The “Captain” squatted down on his knees and commenced examining them. Turning around to his followers he said, “Boys, I believe lie is a detective —shoot him!” and forthwith he was covered with three pistols. “Stop,” said the chief, looking further, “I guess it’s all right,” and handed the Governor his papers. They were all heavily armed, and us one of the passengers expressed it were literally “walking armories.” There are said to be just thirty-two days in the year upon which it is unadvisable to join hands, viz., seven in January, three each in February, March, and December, two each in April, June, July, August, September, and November, and one in October; so that January is the worst and October the best month for committing matrimony—the actual un lucky days being these: January 1,2,4, 5,7, 10, 15; February 6, 7,18; March 1,6, 8; April 6,11; May 5,6, 7; June 7,15; July 5, 19; August 12, 17; September 6, 7; October 6; November 15, 16; and December 15,16,17. As to which is the best day of the week, why— , Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health Wednesday's the best day of all; Thursday for crowee, Friday for losses, Saturday no luck at all. - ■ -.V. Y. Useful industry does not so much con gist in being continually busy as in doing promptly those things which are of the first itpportaflce, and which wUI erentiially prov* Bott profitable. - . ’