February 18, 1893, 84:28 (continued) A Dastardly Deed: Probable Attempt to Rob the Ione Stage As the Ione Stage was coming down the Morrow grade about 7 o'clock Thursday night, it discovered that some fiend in human shape had stretched a barbed wire fence across the road, a short distance beyond the Cyclone station, with the evident object of stopping the stage and robbing the express box. At least no other motive --- except pure cussedness --- could have induced anyone to commit such a dastardly act. The fiends, however, did not succeed in accomplishing their object, as the messenger, Mr. Tovey, happened to be walking ahead of the stage at the time, instead of being in his accustomed place on the seat with the driver of the obstruction, which was of course removed, after which the stage continued its journey without harm (Love these rambling sentences!). It is supposed that the robbers were secreted in the brush near the road, but after finding their scheme had been discovered, concluded to give up the job. Sheriff Gregory started out this morning to investigate the matter, and it is to be hoped that he may succeed in finding some clue by which the perpetrators of the deed may be identified and brought to justice. (Probably went to the donut shop!) Professor Patterson The Ione Echo of last Saturday tells of a traveling writing teacher named Prof. Patterson, who came to that place recently, accompanied by two young ladies, and got up a class in penmanship. At the first meeting of the class, the "Professor" collected the amount of the tuition from his pupils in advance, after which he quietly skipped the town, leaving the pupils minus $2 each and his hotel bill unsettled. He also left his two lady assistants at the hotel without funds, to lookout for themselves as best they could. Constable Hefren started in pursuit of the "Professor" as soon as it was found out that he had skipped and it is hoped he will succeed in bringing the villain to justice. The Echo says it is reported that he swind led the people of Placerville in a similar manner a short time ago. About Bad Roads It seems, after all that Little Amador is not the only county in the State that is blessed (or cursed) with bad roads! Old Lady Robinson, who has been sick for a long time, is now improving (Volcano). Mrs. A. Crist, an old resident of Plymouth, died lately at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Hoskins in Elk Grove (Volcano). Ione City --- A case of smallpox is reported this afternoon in Jackson Valley at Mrs. Leary's place, five miles from Ione. The patient is William Leary who recently arrived from the Railroad Hospital at Sacramento where he was being treated for an injury to his hand. Fortunately, there have been no exposures as far as known, except to the young man's family, and they are nearly all protected by vaccination. February 25, 1893, 34:29 Peek and Newman's Livery Stables, Jackson, Cal Tourists and commercial travelers furnished teams at bed-rock prices! Born near Jackson, February 22, 1893 to Mr. & Mrs. T. Mello, a son. Born in Jackson, February 22, 1893 to Mr. & Mrs. J. Gregor, a daughter. A man named Phillips was arrested in Sutter Creek a few days ago by his mother-in-law, Mrs. Marshal for breaking into her house, and was fined $50 by Justice Giles this Friday morning. He failed to procure the necessary "spondulix" and was sent to jail to meditate over the cruelties of this wicked world. Robbery Not The Motive Sheriff Gregory has spent several days this week in trying to obtain some clue that would lead to the identity of the persons who stretched the barbed wire across the stage road last Thursday night, but has not yet been able to locate the guilty parties. The Sheriff says, however, that after a full investigation of the affair, he is thoroughly convinced that robbery was not the motive which actuated the parties in stretching the wire across the road. He is not yet prepared to say what he thinks their object was, but will probably make it known in due time. A Fatal Cave An Italian named James Rolandi was crushed to death by a cave while working in a tunnel at French Hill, near Jackson Gate last Wednesday morning. The mine in which he was working was owned by himself and three partners named Peter Oneglio, J. Baraton, and D. Guglielmo. At the time of the accident, Rolandi was working in the back end of the tunnel which is about 600 feet in length, while one of the partners was running the car and taking the dirt out to the mouth of the tunnel. He had only proceeded a short distance out with the car on this occasion when he heard a crash behind him and heard Rolandi calling for help. A hasty examination revealed the fact that the tunnel had caved about 15 or 20 feet from the end, leaving Rolandi a prisoner in the rear. He immediately gave the alarm and two of the partners went to work shoveling out the dirt while the third came to town for help. Owing to the loose and gravelly nature of the ground and the foul air in the tunnel, the work of extricating the unfortunate man was attended with great difficulty, and it was nearly ten o'clock at night when they reached the body, which was found in a stooping position with his hands resting against the end of the tunnel. He was dead, of course, as the immense weight of the rock had crushed and smothered him almost instantly. His remains were brought to town as soon as recovered, and taken to the Chicago House on Broadway Street. An inquest was held over the remains Thursday afternoon and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the facts as stated above. His remains were buried this (Friday) afternoon, in the Catholic cemetery. Whew! Sorry, gotta buzz off now. Back later. Steve