Story from John VonderlinEmail John ([email protected])
Hi June,
The next time you are stuck in the weekend traffic on Highway 92, thinking about this story might help to pass the time. This recounting of one of the very few stage holdups ever to occur in San Mateo County is from the August 18th, 1905 issue of “The San Francisco Call.”
SHERIFF OF SAN MATEO COUNTY AND A DRAWING DEPICTING THE STAGE HOLDUP WHICH TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY MORNING NEAR SAN MATEO ON THE HALFMOON BAY ROAD. THE BANDIT AFTER GATHERING UP HIS BOOTY, ESCAPED TO THE HILLS.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Coach Halted on the Half Moon Bay Road
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Coach Halted on the Half Moon Bay Road
Bandit Fires, on Man Who Drives Up
Collects Booty and Makes Escape
REDWOOD CITY, Aug. 17. One of the most daring stage robberies in the history of the State and one without parallel in this part of the country occurred this morning three miles from San Mateo and about twenty miles from San Francisco. The stage which operates between San Mateo and Halfmoon Bay was halted by a lone highwayman on the steep grade near the Crystal Springs dam, and at the point of a revolver, the driver of the stage and the affrighted passengers were forced to deliver their personal valuables and to throw into the road the strong boxes of Wells-Fargo & Co., and a commercial firm of Halfmoon Bay.
The robber won but little of value for his desperate deed and fortunately no one was Injured, although the highway man fired three shots at a passing driver of a team who unwittingly interrupted the knight of the road in his work.
The affair has created intense excitement throughout the county and two well
organized posses, lead by Sheriff Mansfield of this city, are scouring the hills for the bandit. Wells-Fargo detectives are on the scene, but as a very poor description of the robber has been obtained from the occupants of the stage, the prospect of an early capture is not brilliant.
The stage had left San Mateo at an early hour and had gone as far as the Crystal Springs dam. Five passsengers and the driver, Edward Campbell, comprised the party. On the seat with the driver, was O. Olsen, a traveling man employed by Langley & Michaels of San Francisco. On the Inside . of the coach were Miss A. Johnson and J. C. Santos of Halfmoon Bay and Peter Julie and Ralph Rooden of San Francisco. In the care of the driver were the money box of Wells-Fargo & Co. and a private box of Levy Brothers of Halfmoon Bay.
ORDERS DRIVER TO HALT
Just at the turn of the road near the old Smith toll gate, where the cliff descends, precipitately a hundred feet from the road, a masked highwayman stepped
into the road and with leveled revolver shouted the command to halt. The order was obeyed with alacrity. The robber called to the driver to throw the mail sack and the Wells-Fargo box into the road.
The robber won but little of value for his desperate deed and fortunately no one was Injured, although the highway man fired three shots at a passing driver of a team who unwittingly interrupted the knight of the road in his work.
The affair has created intense excitement throughout the county and two well
organized posses, lead by Sheriff Mansfield of this city, are scouring the hills for the bandit. Wells-Fargo detectives are on the scene, but as a very poor description of the robber has been obtained from the occupants of the stage, the prospect of an early capture is not brilliant.
The stage had left San Mateo at an early hour and had gone as far as the Crystal Springs dam. Five passsengers and the driver, Edward Campbell, comprised the party. On the seat with the driver, was O. Olsen, a traveling man employed by Langley & Michaels of San Francisco. On the Inside . of the coach were Miss A. Johnson and J. C. Santos of Halfmoon Bay and Peter Julie and Ralph Rooden of San Francisco. In the care of the driver were the money box of Wells-Fargo & Co. and a private box of Levy Brothers of Halfmoon Bay.
ORDERS DRIVER TO HALT
Just at the turn of the road near the old Smith toll gate, where the cliff descends, precipitately a hundred feet from the road, a masked highwayman stepped
into the road and with leveled revolver shouted the command to halt. The order was obeyed with alacrity. The robber called to the driver to throw the mail sack and the Wells-Fargo box into the road.
Campbell obeyed as far as the boxes were concerned, but hesitated to giving up the mail pouch. An oath from the bandit and a threatening fingering of his pistol brought the desired sack Into the road.
Partly recovered from their terror, the passengers had an opportunity to observe the robber. He was short, probably five foot seven Inches in height, thick-set, weighing, about one hundred and eighty pounds and was palpably disguised as to dress. He wore a long black overcoat, blue overalls and a tight-fitting black cap. His face was effectually concealed by a black handkerchief.
When the mail sack and the boxes had been thrown into the road the robber commanded Santos to pass around his hat among his fellow passengers and not to forget himself in the contribution. Santos understands English imperfectly and was slow to comply. The robber’s pistol and his evident intention to use it proved a stimulus to Santos and his hat came off without further delay.While the enforced donations to the thief was in progress and Santos was wondering how he was going to keep $95 he had in his pocket, a team, rapidly driven, turned the bend in the road.
FIRES UPON INTRUDER
Partly recovered from their terror, the passengers had an opportunity to observe the robber. He was short, probably five foot seven Inches in height, thick-set, weighing, about one hundred and eighty pounds and was palpably disguised as to dress. He wore a long black overcoat, blue overalls and a tight-fitting black cap. His face was effectually concealed by a black handkerchief.
When the mail sack and the boxes had been thrown into the road the robber commanded Santos to pass around his hat among his fellow passengers and not to forget himself in the contribution. Santos understands English imperfectly and was slow to comply. The robber’s pistol and his evident intention to use it proved a stimulus to Santos and his hat came off without further delay.While the enforced donations to the thief was in progress and Santos was wondering how he was going to keep $95 he had in his pocket, a team, rapidly driven, turned the bend in the road.
FIRES UPON INTRUDER
The highwayman, who had started toward the stage to collect his booty, turned quickly and leveling his revolver at the unfortunate interloper, fired. ‘The bullet missed its mark and the driver of the team, E. Bertelotte, jumped from his seat and ran toward the hill. The robber contented himself with firing two more futile shots at the fleeing man and then turned his attention to his prisoners on the stage.
With a volley of oaths he ordered the driver to move on and not to look behind at the peril of his life. The order was strictly obeyed, but the highwayman was not to enjoy the inspection of his prizes in peace. In a short time another team came into view and this time the robber took fright. He had opened the boxes and abstracted all there was of value in them. He was rifling the mail pouch when interrupted. Leaving the boxes behind he broke and ran, taking the mail sack with him.
With a volley of oaths he ordered the driver to move on and not to look behind at the peril of his life. The order was strictly obeyed, but the highwayman was not to enjoy the inspection of his prizes in peace. In a short time another team came into view and this time the robber took fright. He had opened the boxes and abstracted all there was of value in them. He was rifling the mail pouch when interrupted. Leaving the boxes behind he broke and ran, taking the mail sack with him.
The alarm was at once given and posses were organized in this city and at San Mateo. Sheriff ‘Mansfield led the party from here, but as yet no clew (sic) of the robber has been obtained.
J.W.Thacker of the Wells-Fargo Company was here rendering whatever assistance his long experience is able to suggest. He, as well as Superintendent Woods of the Wells-Fargo Company, declares that the marauder found nothing of value in the strong box of the company, as large sums of money are seldom carried and never on the early morning stage.
J.W.Thacker of the Wells-Fargo Company was here rendering whatever assistance his long experience is able to suggest. He, as well as Superintendent Woods of the Wells-Fargo Company, declares that the marauder found nothing of value in the strong box of the company, as large sums of money are seldom carried and never on the early morning stage.
Levy Brothers make the same assertion in reference to their loss. It would appear from this that the desperate thief had very little to reward him for his escapade. This is the second stage robbery in the history of San Mateo County and the first, under such exceptional conditions.