Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-01-12
A NARRATIVE OF RAILROAD LIFE.

WHEN my mate asked of me last Christ
mas Eve permission to remain with his
family at the eastern end of our route, and
not to make the tedious forty hours Jour
ney towards the blue waters of the Pacific,
on which was about to start, l had too
much heart to refuse him. He-Joe Mel
was his name-had a young bride and a
younger babe, and it was hard to separate
them. True, our orders from the company
were that both of US should always Jointly
make the trip, for we were carrying large
quantities of greenbacks and national
notes, for the payment of the Pacific Rail
road contractors; and of course there was
no lack of robbers who were awaiting
every chance to clean out our trunks, and
perhaps clean we poor messengers out OF
existence.
Shortly before an express car had been
entered on our line, and Bill Hughes, the
messenger, beaten almost to death, and his
valuable charge taken, and it was to guard
against such future surprises that mate
had been given me; but Joe pleaded so
hard to stay at home, ard explained to me
so clearly little plan of his own whereby
l could make the trip in safety alone, that
l 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 hundred
miles of my journey, and he was to help i'll
the plan. You see Ned was courting a
younger sister of Joe's wife, and so it all
being almost in the family, he was willing
to do a good deal to give Joe his Christ
mas at home. First we went to the rail-
road superintendent, and got his permis-
sion to take my through express car out of
the train, and substitute therefor graf n
car. My car was one of the kind with a
passage outside, and doors in each end, be-
sides those at the sides.
This made it easier to attack, should
robbers get on the train, as the multitude
OF doors required stricter guard against
surprise, with al increase of danger.
The grain car had only the two side
doors, which locked from without, but had
two little grated windows for ventilators,
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 in, with some
private instructions.
Well, at O'Clock on Christmas eve the
train was ready to start Our express
superintendent was down to see us off.
and noticed the changed car, but suppos-
ing the other to be out of repair, said
nothing. He watched me place the valu-
able packages | had received in my safe
and iron chest, and then springing 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 appear before the super
intendent to be going with me. Ned came
and locked US in, Joe first kissing his wife,
who was on the platform, good-by, and
pretended-lucky fellow-that he was SO
sorry that he wes going away at Christ
mas. AS soon as the door was shut and
locked, Joe went through that on the
other side, first thanking me again for be-
friending 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 moments, and [ had time to look
around and arrange my traps to make the
trip as comfortable as possible There
was no receiving or handing out of pack
ages to be done until the next morning.
when the new engineer would open nv
door. Ned would leave us about mid
night, and till then, when he would look
in upon me, might make myself as happy
or as miserable as | chose.
In less than an hour after leaving had
s1ung hammock | carried with me, and
had turned in. The shutters over the for
ward ventilatOr-my car was next to the
engine-I had closed down and fastened it
with wedge, to keep the wind from blow
ing it topen. The rear ventilator left open,
the little six Dy six hole, guarded by three
iron bars, giving me ventilation. Near
this 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, surely was in safety, and
so dropped asleep.
How long / slept could not tell before
I awakened with start as something
passed over my mouth. It seemed
like mouse or rat, but it left an over.
ing, and before I could open my eyes to
see clearly, or could come to my senses, ]
was again asleep. Again l 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 seemed as if was
yet dreaming; had no power over head
or limb. Another effort I would make to
shake off this deadly feeling, but as ]
streve to turn in my hammock, or to lif
myself, something cold touches my fore
head with refreshing GOODNESS, and grufl
voice bids me lie quiet. / turn nv head
with intense difficulty and pain, and see
q black visaged man standing over me
He repeats the injunction to be quiet. ]
trace his arm down rewards my head, an6
see that it is revolver which is touching
my forehead. In a half asleep, half fool
ish manner, Iglance at the deadly instru
ment, and wonder what it cost, and whether
it will shoot straight and into my brai1
should it be fired. The effects of som.
drug are still working upon me, and as
come more to life, as it were, recognize
the fumes of chloroform.
Two other black-visaged men are busil,
sorting out my valuables, and are throwing
all dangerous bonds and papers into one
corner of the car, while they are placing
In bags the currency and notes. The maj
watching me speaks, and says: " No. 1, ht
is come to-" No. comes close and locks
at me; he alse is Black -visaged, made SO
] goW see, by Grape veil or mask. With