Billy next went to Bummer Dan, who handed out two purses from his pocket. Rumsey took them, and threw them on the ground besides the pistols. The next man was Matteson; but as he dropped his hands to take out his money, the leader shouted, “Keep up your hands, you ——. Take his money.” Rumsey approached him, and putting his hand into his left pocket, found there a purse and a porte monnaie. Seizing the opportunity, he asked—in a whisper—if there was anything in the porte monnaie. He said “No.” Rumsey turned to the robbers and said, “You don’t want this, do you?” holding up the porte monnaie. Matteson told them that there was nothing in it but papers. They surlily answered, “We don’t want that.” On examining the other pocket, the searcher found a purse, which he threw out on the ground with the pistols.
They then demanded of Rumsey whether he had all; and on his answering “Yes,” turning to Matteson the leader said, “Is that all you’ve got?” “No,” said he, “there’s another in here.” He was holding up his hands when he spoke, and he nudged the pocket with his elbow. The Road Agent angrily ordered Rumsey to take it out, and not leave “Nothing.” He did as he was bidden, and threw the purse on the ground, after which he started for the coach, and had his foot on the hub of the wheel, when the robbers yelled out, “Where are you going, you ——?” “To get on the coach, you fool,” said the irate driver, “You’ve got all there is.” He instantly retorted, “Go back there and get that big sack,” and added pointing to Bummer Dan, “You’re the man we’re after. Get that strap off your shoulder, you d——d Irish ——.” Bummer Dan had a strap over his shoulder, fastened to a large purse, that went down into his pants. He had thrown out two little sacks before.
Seeing that there was no chance of saving his money, he commenced unbuckling the strap, and when Rumsey got to him he had it off. Billy took hold of the tab to pull it out, but it would not come; whereupon he let go and stepped back. Dan commenced to unbutton his pants, the “Cap” ordering Rumsey to jerk it off, or he would shoot him in a minute. While he was speaking, Rumsey saw that Dan had another strap round his body, under his shirt. He stepped back again, saying, “You fools! you’re not going to kill a man who is doing all he can for you. Give him time.” They ordered him to hurry up, calling him “An awkward ——,” and telling him that they hadn’t any more time to lose. Dan had by this time got the belt loose, and he handed Rumsey a big, fringed bag, containing two other sacks. He received it, and tossed it beside the pistols.
The Road Agents finished the proceedings by saying, “Get aboard, every —— of you; and get out of this; and if we ever hear a word from one of you, we’ll kill you surer than h—l.”
They all got aboard, with great promptitude, Bunton mounting beside the driver, (he did not want to get inside then,) and commenced to whip the horses, observing that that was a d——d hot place for him, and he would get out of it as soon as he could. Rumsey saw, at a turn of the road by looking over the coach, that the Road Agents had dismounted, one holding the horses, while the other was picking up the plunder, which amounted to about $2,800.
The coach went on to Bannack, and reported the robbery at Peabody’s Express Office. George Hilderman was in Peabody’s when the coach arrived. He seemed as much surprised as any of them. His business was to hear what would happen, and to give word if the passengers named either of the robbers, and then, on their return, they would have murdered them. It was at this man’s place that Geo. Ives and the gang with him were found. He was banished when Ives was hung. Had he been caught only a little time afterwards, he would have swung with the rest, as his villainies were known.
The Road Agents had a private mark on the coach, when it carried money, and thus telegraphed it along the road. Rumsey told in Bannack whom he suspected; but he was wrong. Bummer Dan and Percival knew them, and told Matteson; but neither of them ever divulged it until the men were hung. They were afraid of their lives. Frank Parish confessed his share in this robbery. George Ives was the other.
CHAPTER XII.
THE SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA CITY AND THE MURDER OF DILLINGHAM.
Early in June, 1863, Alder Gulch was discovered by Tom Cover, Bill Fairweather, Barney Hughes, Edgar and some others. It was a sheer accident. After a long and unsuccessful tour, they came thither on their way to Bannack, and one of them took a notion to try a pan of dirt. A good prospect was obtained, and the lucky “panner” gave his name to the far famed “Fairweather District.”
Tom Cover and some others of the party returned to Bannack for provisions, and for the purpose of communicating the discovery to their friends. A wild stampede was the consequence.