Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-01-19
saaisfrllauenas.
The Robbery on New YearsEye.
THE Exparss MESSENGER STORY.
A Narrative of Railroad Life.
[From the .. y. Evening POst.l

When my mate asked or nee New
Years Eve permission to remain VIII
his family at the eastern end of ou
route, and not to make the tedious fort.
hours journey towards the blue water
of the Pacific, on which / was about y
start, had too much heart to refus
him. He-Joe Mel was his name-hat
young bride and q younger babe, ant
it was hard to separate them. True, lou
orders from thecohpany were that boti
of US should always jointly make th'
trip, for we were carrying large quanti
ties of greenbacks and national notes
for the paymentof the Pacific railroad
contractors; and of course there was M
lack of robbers who were awaiting every
chance to clean out our trunks, and per
haps clean us poor messengers out o
existence. afffI hsfn 40
Shortly before an express car had beef
entered on our line, Bill Hughes, thu
messenger. beaten almost to death. ant
his valuable charge taken; and it was t.
guard againstsuch future surprises thai
mate had been given me, but Joe plead
ed so hard to stay at home, and explain
ed to me SO clearly little plan of hi'
own, whereby could make the trip ir
safety alone, that I gave in to his request
and hastened with him to set our little
plan in motion.
Joe's brother, Ned, the engineer, was
to run his engine for the first one hun.
dred miles ofJiny journey, and he was
to help in the plan; You see, Ned was
courting younger sister of Joe's wife
and SO it all being almost in the family,
he was willing to do good deal to, give
Joe his Christmas at home. First, we
went to the railroad superintendent, and
got his permission to take my through
express car out of the train and substi-
tute therefor grain car. My car was
one of that kind with o passenger out
side, and doors in each end besides those
at the sides. -
This made ii easier of attack, should
robbers get on the train; as the multi
tude of doors required stricter guard
against surprise, with an increase of
danger. o1 .-A-esE gs aaf .1i..i-sfs
The grain ear had only the two side
doors, which locked from without, but
had two little grated windows for venti-
lators, one 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 engineer that
came on, with some private instructions.
Well, at seven O'Clock on New Years
eve the train was ready to start. Our
express superintendent was down to see
us of, and noticed the changed car, but
supposing the other to be out of repair
said nothing. He watched me place the
valuable packages had received in my
safe and iron chest, and then spring.ng
into the car warned both Joe and myself
to be very careful, as he had news that
mischief was intended before long. Joe
was helping me in the car, SO as to ap-
rear before the superintendent to be
going with me. Ned came and locked
us in; Joe first kissing his wife, who
was on the platform, good by, and pre-
tending-lucky fellow--that he was so
sorry he was going away at New Yesr's.
AS soon as the door was shut and locked
Joe went through that on the otherside,
first thanking me again for befriending,
him, and then heard him lock the
other door with the key Ned had sent
to him by his fireman. We were off in.
a few minutes, and then took time to
look around and arrange my traps to
make the trip as comfortably as possible.
There was no receiving or handing out
of packages to be done till the next
morning, when the new engineer would
open my door. Ned would leave us
about midnight, and till then, when he
would look in upon me, I might make
myself as happy or as miserable as I
chose.
In less than an hour after leaving I
had slung hammock / had carried with
me, and had turned in. The shutter
over the forward ventilator-my+ car
was next to the engine--I had closed
down and fastened it with wedge, to
keep the wind from blowing it open.
The rear ventilator left open, the little
six by six hole, guarded by three iron
bars, giving me ventilation. Near this
I had slung my hammock, and then,
with my revolver in a box close to my
hand, and with the bell-rope running
just over my head, II surely was in safety,
so dropped sleep.
How long slept could not tell be-
fore L awakened with start as some
thing passed over my mouth. 1t seemed
like mouse or rat, but it left an over
whelming smell, a close, suffocatingfe feel
ing, and before could open my eyes TO
see clearly, or could come to my senses,
was again asleep. Again awoke, this
time completely. but with fearful
weight of oppression over my eyes. My
head ached, and strove to place my
hand upon it. My hand would not obey
my wish: must be paralyzed; it SEEM
ed as if was yet dreaming; 1 had no
power over my head or limbs. Another
effort would make to shake off this
deadly feeling, but as Istrove to turn in
my hammock, or to lift myself some-
thing cold touches my forehead with
refreshing coolness. and gruf voice
bids me- lie quiet. Turn my head with
intense difficulty and pain, and see a
black.yisaged man standing over me-
He repeats the injunction to be quiet.
House. st.S.-