Stagecoach Brawl

The Marysville-to-Sacramento stagecoach run on November 14, 1858 didn’t exactly have an auspicious beginning. J. Stinchfield, driver for Fowler & Company, was unceremoniously knocked down and kicked by California Stage Company Road Agent Montgomery before he even climbed aboard his vehicle. Then Montgomery’s driver, Oscar Case, announced his intention to follow Stinchfield in his own vehicle, ominously leaving about two hours later than his usual departure time. Case drove a heavy Troy coach, Stinchfield a lighter covered wagon and carried several passengers. On the road to Sacramento, Case made a concerted effort to harass the Fowler & Company stage, continually moving ahead of Stinchfield and abruptly stopping his own team; when Stinchfield tried to pass, Case again moved in front of him. Not content with merely obstructing the other stage, Case threw firecrackers at Stinchfield’s horses and repeatedly attempted to drive the lighter vehicle off the road. At one point, Case actually ran his vehicle into the lighter coach, injuring one of the horses, causing the passengers to jump out, and hurting one of them, though not seriously.

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