THE ROBBERY OF THE SALT LAKE MAIL COACH BY GEORGE IVES, BILL GRAVES
alias WHISKEY BILL, AND BOB ZACHARY.
“Which is the villain? Let me see his eyes,
That when I note another man like him
I may avoid him.”--SHAKSPEARE.
At the latter end of the month of November, 1863, Oliver’s Salt Lake
coach, driven by Thos. C. Caldwell, left Virginia for Salt Lake City,
carrying as passengers Leroy Southmayde and Captain Moore. There was
also a discharged driver named Billy. At about three P. M., they
reached Loraine’s Ranch, where George Ives rode up and stopped. He
wanted to get a change of horses, but could not obtain them. He then
ordered grain for his horse, standing beside Southmayde all the time.
Suddenly he said, “I have heard of Tex; he is at Cold Spring Ranch,”
and then ordered his horse. Steve Marshland was in his company.
Between Loraine’s and Cold Spring Ranch, they passed the coach, and
sure enough there the three were, in conversation at the Ranch, as the
stage drove up.
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.’”
The horses were somewhat restive, but Tom held them fast, and
Southmayde, with a view to reconnoitering, said in a whisper, “Tom,
drive slow.” Ives called out, “Drive on.” Leroy turned round on his
seat, determined to find out who the robbers were, and looked carefully
at them for nearly a minute, which Ives at last observing, he yelled
out, “If you don’t turn round, and mind your business, I’ll shoot
the top of your head off.” The three robbers gathered together, and
remained watching, till the coach was out of sight.
Leroy Southmayde lost $400 in gold, and Captain Moore delivered up $100
in Treasury Notes, belonging to another man.
The coach proceeded on its way to Bannack without further molestation,
and on its arrival there, Plummer was in waiting, and asked, “Was the
coach robbed to-day?” and being told that it had been, as Southmayde
jumped down, he took him by the arm, and knowing him to be Sheriff,
Southmayde was just about to tell him all about it, when Judge G. G.
Bissell gave Leroy a slight nudge, and motioned for him to step back,
which he did, and the Judge told him to be very careful what he told
that man, meaning Plummer; Southmayde closed one eye as a private
signal of comprehension, and rejoined Plummer, who said, “I think I
can tell you who it was that robbed you.” Leroy asked, “Who?” Plummer
replied, “George Ives was one of them.” Southmayde said, “I know; and
the others were Whiskey Bill and Bob Zachary; and I’ll live to see them
hanged before three weeks.” Plummer at once walked off, and though
Leroy was in town for three days, he never saw him afterwards. The
object of Plummer’s accusation of Ives was to see whether Southmayde
really knew anything. Some time after, Judge Bissell--who had overheard
Southmayde telling Plummer who the thieves were--remarked to him,
“Leroy, your life is not worth a cent.”
On the second day after, as Tom was returning, he saw Graves at the
Cold Spring Ranch, and took him on one side asking him if he had heard
of the “little robbery.” Graves replied that he had, and asked him
if he knew who were the perpetrators. Tom said, “No,” adding, “And I
wouldn’t for the world; for if I did, and told of them, I shouldn’t
live long.” “That’s a fact, Tom,” said Graves, “You wouldn’t live
fifteen minutes. I’ll tell you of a circumstance as happened to me
about bein’ robbed in Californy:
“One night about ten o’clock, me and my partner was ridin’ along, and
two fellers rode up and told us to throw up our hands, and give up
our money. We did it pretty quick I guess. They got $2,000 in coined
gold from us. I told ’em, ‘Boys,’ sez I, ‘It’s pretty rough to take
all we’ve got.’ So the feller said it was rather rough, and he gave us
back $40. About a week after, I seen the two fellers dealin’ Faro. I
looked pretty hard at them, and went out. One of the chaps follered me,
and sez he, ‘Ain’t you the man that was robbed the other night?’ ‘No,’
sez I, for I was afraid to tell him the truth. Sez he, ‘I want you to
own up; I know you’re the man. Now I’m agoing to give you $4,000 for
keeping your mouth shut,’ and he did, ----. Now you see, Tom, that’s
what I got for keepin’ my mouth shut. I saved my life, and got $4,000.”
Ives made for Virginia City, and there told, in a house of ill-fame,
that he was the Bamboo chief that made Tom Caldwell throw up his hands,
and that, ----, he would do it again. He and a Colorado driver, who
was a friend of Caldwell’s went together to Nevada. Each of them had
a shot-gun. Ives was intoxicated. The driver asked Ives whom did he
suppose to be the robbers; to which he quickly replied, “I am the
Bamboo chief that robbed it,” etc., etc., as before mentioned. The
man then said, “Don’t you think Tom knows it?” “Of course I do,” said
George. As they came back to town, the driver saw Tom, and waved to him
to keep back, which he did, and sent a man to inquire the reason of the
signal. The messenger brought him back information of what had passed,
and told him to keep out of Ives’ way, for he was drunk and might kill
him.
The same evening, Tom and his friend went to the Cold Spring Ranch
together, on the coach, and the entire particulars came out, in
conversation. The driver finished the story by stating that he sat on
his horse, ready to shoot Ives, if he should succeed in getting the
“drop” on Caldwell.
Three days after, when Southmayde was about to return from Bannack,
Buck Stinson and Ned Ray came into the Express Office, and asked
who were for Virginia. On being told that there were none but
Southmayde, they said, “Well, then, we’ll go.” The Agent came over
and said to Leroy, “For God’s sake, don’t go; I believe you’ll be
killed.” Southmayde replied, “I have got to go; and if you’ll get me
a double-barrelled shot gun, I will take my chances.” Oliver’s Agent
accordingly provided Leroy Southmayde, Tom Caldwell, and a young
lad about sixteen years of age, who was also going by the coach to
Virginia, with a shot gun each. Leroy rode with Tom. They kept a keen
eye on a pair of Road Agents, one driving and the other watching.
The journey was as monotonous as a night picket, until the coach
reached the crossing of the Stinkingwater, where two of the three men
that robbed it (Bob Zachary and Bill Graves) were together, in front
of the station, along with Aleck Carter. Buck Stinson saw them, and
shouted, “Ho! you ---- Road Agents.” Said Leroy to Tom Caldwell, “Tom,
we’re gone up.” Said Tom, “That’s so.”
At the Cold Spring Station, where the coach stopped for supper, the
amiable trio came up. They were, of course fully armed with gun,
pistols and knife. Two of them set down their guns at the door, and
came in. Aleck Carter had his gun slung at his back. Bob Zachary
feigning to be drunk, called out, “I’d like to see the ---- man that
don’t like Stone.” Finding that, as far as could be ascertained,
everybody present, had a very high opinion of Stone, he called for a
treat to all hands, which having been disposed of, he bought a bottle
of whiskey and behaved “miscellaneously” till the coach started.
After going about a quarter of a mile, they wheeled their horses and
called “Halt.” The instant the word left their lips, Leroy dropped his
gun on Aleck Carter; Tom Caldwell, and the other passenger each picked
his man, and drew a bead on him, at the same moment. Aleck Carter
called out, “We only want you to take a drink; but you can shoot and
be ----, if you want to.” Producing the bottle, it was handed round;
but Leroy and Tom only touched their lips to it. Tom believed it to be
poisoned. After politely inquiring if any of the ---- wanted any more,
they wheeled their horses, saying, “We’re off for Pete Daley’s,” and
clapped spurs to their horses, and headed for the Ranch, going on a
keen run.
Before leaving Cold Spring Ranch, Leroy Southmayde told Tom that he saw
through it all, and would leave the coach; but Tom said he would take
Buck up beside him, and that surely the other fellow could watch Ray.
Buck did not like the arrangement; but Tom said, “You’re an old driver,
and I want you up with me, ----.”
The two passengers sat with their shot guns across their knees, ready
for a move on the part of either of the robbers.
At Lorraine’s Ranch, Leroy and Caldwell went out a little way from
the place, with the bridles in their hands, and talked about the
“situation.” They agreed that it was pretty rough, and were debating
the propriety of taking to the brush, and leaving the coach, when their
peace of mind was in no way assured by seeing that Buck Stinson was
close to them, and must have overheard every word they had uttered.
Buck endeavored to allay their fears by saying there was no danger.
They told him that they were armed, and that if they were attacked,
they would make it a warm time for some of them; at any rate, they
would “get” three or four of them. Buck replied, “Gentlemen, I pledge
you my word, my honor, and my life, that you will not be attacked
between this and Virginia.”
The coach went on, directly the horses were hitched up, and Buck
commenced roaring out a song, without intermission, till at last he
became tired, and then, at his request, Ray took up the chorus. This
was the signal to the other three to keep off. Had the song ceased, an
attack would have been at once made, but, without going into Algebra,
they were able to ascertain that such a venture had more peril than
profit, and so they let it alone. The driver, Southmayde and the young
passenger were not sorry when they alighted safe in town. Ned Ray
called on Southmayde and told him that if he knew who committed the
robbery he should not tell; for that death would be his portion if he
did.