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Thomas & Skadans Express Unused Envelope

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Wells Fargo & Express Co's Memorabilia Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:100.00 - 200.00 USD
Thomas & Skadans Express Unused Envelope
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Thomes & Skaden ran between Susanville, California and Reno, Nevada. They connected with Wells Fargo at Reno, which was on the railroad leading into California, for faster connections with Sacramento and San Francisco and also to the east coast. They were based out of Susanville, but had an office in the Depot Hotel in Reno. They began in 1870 and ended in 1874.



One of the most interesting stories around this line was the robbery in 1871 of a Thomes & Skaden stagecoach when Thomes himself was the driver. The stagecoach was 1 1/2 miles from Reno - its destination - when two men brought the coach to a halt. Thomes was relieved of $100 . But the real target was the passenger sitting next to him. Major Eggleston was a United States Army paymaster and had considerable value riding with him. The robbers got $2,200 from him. Next they went to work on the passengers. There were five soldiers on board and one crotchety old famer. A soldier was ordered out and then came Mr. Lemmon (as in Lemmon Valley). He challenged the robbers to a fight using rocks. While this ‘discussion’ was taking place, Thomes drew a derringer from his pocket and hit one the robbers between the 11th and 12th rib on his right side. The robbers fired back 5 times at Thomes, but missed. The shots did, however, spook the team and they took off for a short distance. That was the robbers cue to exit. The man that was shot dropped the $2000 payroll belt and the robbers had failed to retrieve the $10,000 express box. Not a very good robbery! Both robbers were caught before nightfall. The injured robber had been left to die by his partner and was found near the site of the robbery. He quickly gave up his partner and these two twenty-year old robbers were sent to the Nevada State Prison in Carson City. The Reno Crescent newspaper was quick to cast serious questions as to the bravery of the soldiers in the army and laud the stagecoach driver and old-farmer Lemmon. (Potter Collection)

Date: c1872 Location: Reno, Nevada HWAC# 59411