ANSWERS TO GO with Susan Smith
Q. Earlier you wrote that Post Road was part of the original mail route between San Antonio and Austin. Do your files have anything on the stagecoach robbery on Post Road?
A. In this case, earlier refers to 2006 when this Sunday’s column first appeared in the Daily Record. Most historic crimes in San Marcos were bank heists, but we did find information on this stagecoach hold-up in the ‘Robbery’ file in our San Marcos/Hays County Collection.
The file includes copies of stories that ran in the Austin American-Statesman as well as reports and updates that appeared in The West Texas Free Press between April 11 and Sept. 5, 1874.
Here are some excerpts: “On Tuesday evening, a most daring and outrageous robbery was committed on the passengers of the stage coming from San Antonio. About sunset in the evening, when the stage was nearly two miles on this side of the Blanco, three men approached and drawing their six-shooters on the driver, Bill Anderson, well known in this city, ordered him to stop, which he immediately did.
The stage had nine passengers on board. As soon as the stage stopped, all of the passengers were ordered to alight and seat themselves in a row. As none of them had any weapons, resistance was useless. Two of the robbers stood before them, both having a six-shooter in each hand. They ordered the passengers to give up their money, watches, and other valuables.
“Then they proceeded to cut open and rifle their trunks, taking such articles of value as they could get away with speedily; and lastly came the United States mail. After cutting open the sacks and rifling them of their contents, they left them lying scattered around, with the exception of one sack which they took away with them.
“They proceeded to cut the horses loose from the stage, and rode off, leaving the bewildered and frightened passengers to proceed on their journey as best they could. No violence was offered to any of the passengers, and they all conceded that the robbers went to work like men who know their business.
“The amount taken from passengers was about $2500 in United States currency and four gold watches. As soon as the Legislature met yesterday, a joint resolution was passed authorizing the Governor to offer a reward of $3000 for the apprehension of the robbers; Mr. Callahan, U.S. mail agent, offers $3000 more; and Mr. Sam T. Scott the efficient manager of the stage line, added $1000 more, making a total of $7000 offered for the apprehension of the robbers.
“At dark last night parties left here in pursuit of the robbers, and we trust these most daring and outrageous criminals may be ferreted out.”
Further articles provide background on the stagecoach’s passengers. Among them was the illustrious banker George Washington Brackenridge who gave land for Brackenridge Park to San Antonio. Also discussed is the identification, pursuit, capture, and death of some of the robbers who were caught as they tried to make their getaway to “the Indian Territory.”
