The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-17
The Expssss gssssngsrss story.

When my mate asked Of me last
christmas eve permission 10, remain
with his family at tho Eastern end of our
route: and not to make the tedious forty
heprs' journey towards the blue waters
of the Pacific, .on which was about to
start, T had top. much ,heart. to refuse
him. .He-,Joe Mel wss his name had
young bride and q younger babe, and
it was hard to separate them True,
our orders from the company we're that
both OF ds should always jointly make
the trip for: we were carrying large
quantities OF greenbacks and national
notes for the payment Of the PaoiAo
Raiifoad contractors; and; Of course,
there .yas pp Jack OF robbers, who were
awaiting every ohancs TO clean !out ionr
trunks. and perhaps olean we poor mes
sepgers out of existAnee.
Shortly before, ali express car hsd
been entered on uur line. and Bill
Hughes the messenger. beaten slmost
to death, and his valuable charge taken;
and it wasito guard, against suoh future
surprises that g mate had been given me;
but Joe pleaded 80 hard to stay at home.
and explained tc mo sc clearly = little
plan 0f hisioWn, whereby I could make
the trip in safety alone, that I gave In TO
his return, and tastened with him to get
onr little plan in m0tion. 'n37l. +
Joe's brotherj Ned, the engineer. wa.
to run his engine for the first 100 miles
OF my journey, and he was to teap In The
plan.1 You sea, Ned was aoonftinu q
younger eisEetQf 3oa,aswife, and.soit all
being almost in the family, he was will
ing to do, Q great deal TO give Joe his
Christmas aS home: First lie went TO
the railroad superintendent ana cot lis
!: permission 70 take my through express
car ont OF the train end substitute. there.
for grain naf:: MY cariwas one Of those
kind With passage outside. and doorf
In each end, besides those at the sides
This made it easier Of attack, should
robbers get on the train, as the muIti
tude OF doors required stricter guard
against surprise, with an iueres.se OF dan
ger. The grain car had only the two
slde-doors, which locked from without
but had two little grated windows fo,
ventliiators, ono at each end, with
wooden shutters on the inside TO close
them up tightly Ned was to. lock me
In, and to hand the key to the next enpi
instructions. ..!3~ a -.
Well, at O'Clock, on Christmas Eve
the train was ready to- start. Our az
press superintendent was down to: see n,
oif,'end' noticed the changed car, but
supposing the other to be out OF repair
said nothing: He watched me place tlit
valuable packages I'had received in mJ
safe ead iron chest, and then springinff
INTO the cor, warned: both Joe and NV
seif to be very careful, as he had now,
That mischief was intended before long
Joe was helping me in the. car, so as e
appear before the superintendent to be
going with me- Ned came and locked
ns In, Joe first kissing his wife, who wat
on the platform, good-by, and pretend
11ng-lncky fellow55--that he was 80 sorry
ne was going away at Christmas. Az
soon as the door was Sehnt and looked
zoe went through that on the other side
n!se tnanklng me- again for befriendine
h1m, and then heard him lock The
other door with the key Ned had sent to
him by his fireman. We were off in !