This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Montgomery Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UW.2ADE/1644 Message Board Post: Ukiah Republican Press Ukiah, Mendocino Co., CA Friday, May 20, 1892 "BUCKS" DEATH. A. B. Montgomery Killed By Bandits Murdered in the Discharge of His Duty. Sketch of His Life. Ukiah was thrown into the greatest consternation Saturday by the intelligence that "Buck" Montgomery had been mortally wounded by a highwayman. A second telegram announcing his death completed the consternation. Nothing else was talked of or thought about than that brave Buck Montgomery, whom everybody knew and loved had been murdered. The San Francisco papers containing long accounts were sought for eagerly. Every detail, however minute, was read and discussed, so intense was the interest. Montgomery was doing duty as Wells Fargo's messenger on the Redding and Weaverville stage Saturday. The stage was on its way to Redding, and had just reached the top of a long grade about five miles from Redding when a highwayman, standing on a bank ahead of the team pulled on the driver, John Boyce, and ordered him to stop, and ordered a passenger, George Suhr, who was on the seat with the driver, to throw out the boxes. Both commands were complied with. Buck Montgomery was inside the stage, on the back seat. He brought his shotgun into position immediately and fired at the man on the bank, the range being short. The robber sank to his knees, but fired, wounding the driver and Suhr, but neither mortally, the buckshot taking effect in their legs. Simultaneous with the shooting of Montgomery and the robber, two other shots were fired at Montgomery from the rear. One took effect in his back, coming out near the navel; the other took effect in his thigh. He died from the wounds two hours later. The stage team immediately started to run, but were held by Suhr, who had three buckshot in his legs. Driver Boyce was incapacitated, but managed to work the brake. The robbers were left with their booty and made off with it. The boxes are said to have contained about $5000 in bullion which was being shipped from the mines. The stage had gone but a short distance when it was met by Dr. Stevenson and wife. The Dr. attended the wounded, and Mrs. Stevenson was dispatched to Redding to alarm the authorities and secure further assistance. Mrs. Montgomery and sons hastened to the scene, but arrived too late to be recognized by Buck who breathed his last in a few minutes after they came. The robber whom "Buck" shot was captured Sunday by three boys less than a mile from the scene of the robbery. He had been robbed by his companions and left to die. He had ten shots in him, three through the head, two in an arm, and five in the breast. He was lodged in the Redding jail, and will probably live. He gave his name as George Shaw. Montgomery's remains were taken to San Francisco and brought to Ukiah, reaching here Tuesday noon. It seemed half the population was at the train waiting the body of the dead hero and the grief stricken relatives. The remains were conveyed to the Christian church where the services were held. The church was crowded beyond the capacity and many stood on the outside. Rev. J. B. Haston spoke impressively and Rev. H. Price concluded the service by remarks indicating the feelings of Ukiah when the awful news came, and the deep sympathy of the people. No funeral has ever occurred in town that has caused such deep interest and acute sympathy and grief. Women shed freely the tears of which their hearts were full, and strong men who knew Buck well were not ashamed to drop a tear for the man they had loved. The remains were interred in the Odd Fellow's cemetery. The procession which accompanied it thither was the longest ever before seen in Ukiah. A. B. MONTGOMERY Amos Buchanan Montgomery was born in Missouri thirty five years ago. His parents moved to this county in the early days of its settlement. "Buck" as he was familiarly called, was a true mountaineer. He was a crack shot, and when a boy few excelled him in bringing down deer, bear, panther, and the other wild game that roamed the frontier. He was formerly in the stock business, but gave it up and followed his natural bent--that of hunting both game and man. He rendered his first service to Wells Fargo and the U.S. Mails by capturing Neafus and Asbill in Round Valley in 1889. They had robbed the stage above Blue Rock. He had materially assisted on other captures. Buck was not only brave but cautious, and used splendid judgement. When in pursuit of robbers he took the lead. None could best him in traveling. About a year ago he was appointed regular messenger on the run between Shasta and Redding. At the time of his death he owned an interest in the line. He had a close friend in Detective Jno. N. Thatcher, who describes Buck as one of the best men he ever knew, a crack shot, quick as lightning, and possessed of iron nerve. He leaves a number of relatives including the widow and two young sons, his father and mother, three brothers, Jim Montgomery at Caspar, Tom now in Lake county, and Alex, though to be in Montana; also five sisters; four of whom live in this county, and one in San Francisco. Mendocino County Indexes http://www.pacificsites.net/~pcarna Mendocino County Tombstone Photos http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mendocem/