Tex, alias Jem Crow, afterwards stated that they told him they were going to rob the stage that night. Old Tex was watching the coach when it started from Virginia, and Captain Moore observing him and knowing his character, told Southmayde that he did not like to see him there. Circumstances and conclusive testimony have since proved that he was the spy, and being furnished with a fleet horse, he rode across the country, at full speed, heading the coach, as before described.
They drove on to the point of Rocks, and there they lay over till morning. At Stone’s Ranch, the Road Agents made a circuit and passed the coach unobserved. Ives had been joined, in the meanwhile, by Whiskey Bill and Bob Zachary. About 11 A. M., the travelers overtook the three Road Agents. Each one had his shot gun lying over his left arm, and they appeared, from behind, like hunters. As the stage came up, they wheeled their horses, at once, and presented their pieces. Bill Graves drew a bead on Tom Caldwell; Ives covered Southmayde, while Bob Zachary, keeping his gun pointed at the coach, watched Captain Moore and Billy.
Southmayde had the opportunity of looking down the barrels of Ives’s gun, and could almost see the buckshot getting ready for a jump. As a matter of taste, he thinks such a sight anything but agreeable or edifying, and if his luck should bring him in the vicinity of Road Agents in pursuit of their calling, he confidentially informs us that he would prefer a side view of the operation, as he would then be able to speak dispassionately of the affair. To report without “Fear, favor or affection,” is rather hard when the view is taken in front, at short range. Without “Favor or affection” can be managed; but the observance of the first condition would necessitate an indifference to a shower of “cold pewter,” possessed only by despairing lovers of the red-cover novellette class, and these men never visit the mountains; alkali, sage brush fires, and “beef-straight” having a decidedly “material” tendency, and being very destructive of sentiment. Ives called out, “halt! throw up your hands,” and then bade Zachary “Get down and look after those fellows.”
Accordingly Bob dismounted, and leaving his horse, he walked, gun in hand, up to Southmayde. While engaged in panning out Southmayde’s dust, he trembled from head to foot (and that not with cold.)
The appearance of the Road Agents, at this moment, was striking, and not at all such as would be desired by elderly members of the “Peace party.” Each man had on a green and blue blanket, covering the body entirely. Whiskey Bill wore a “plug” hat, (the antitype of the muff on a soup-plate usually worn in the East.) His sleeves were rolled up above the elbow; he had a black silk handkerchief over his face, with holes for sight and air, and he rode a gray horse, covered from the ears to the tail with a blanket, which, however, left the head and legs exposed to view. George Ives’ horse was blanketed in the same way. It was a dappled gray, with a roached mane. He himself was masked with a piece of a gray blanket, with the necessary perforations. Zachary rode a blue-gray horse, belonging to Bob Dempsey, (“All the country” was their stable)—blanketed like the others—and his mask was a piece of a Jersey shirt.
Ives was on the off side of the driver, and Graves on the near side. When Zachary walked up to Southmayde, he said, “Shut your eyes.” This Southmayde respectfully declined, and the matter was not pressed. Bob then took Leroy’s pistol and money, and threw them down.
While Southmayde was being robbed, Billy, feeling tired, put down his hands; upon which Ives instantly roared out, “Throw them up, you ——.” It is recorded that Billy obeyed with alacrity, though not with cheerfulness.
Zachary walked up to Captain Moore and made a similar request. The Captain declared with great solemnity, as he handed him his purse, that it was “All he had in the world;” but it afterwards appeared that a sum of $25 was not included in that estimate of his terrestial assets; for he produced this money when the Road Agents had disappeared.
Continuing his search, the relieving officer came to Billy, and demanded his pistol, which was immediately handed over. Ives asked, “Is it loaded,” and being answered in the negative, told Bob to give it back to the owner. Tom Caldwell’s turn came next. He had several small sums belonging to different parties, which he was carrying for them to their friends, and also he had been commissioned to make some purchases. As Bob approached him, he exclaimed, “My God! what do you want with me; I have nothing.” Graves told Zachary to let him alone, and inquired if there was anything in the mail that they wanted. Tom said he did not think that there was. Zachary stepped upon the brake bar and commenced an examination, but found nothing. As Caldwell looked at Zachary while he was thus occupied, Ives ordered him not to do that. Tom turned and asked if he might look at him. Ives nodded.
Having finished his search, Zachary picked up his gun, and stepped back. Ives dismissed the “parade” with the laconic command, “Get up and ‘skedaddle.’”