The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-02-07
ROBBERY ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

main with his family at the eastern end
of our route, and not to make the tedious
forty hours Journey towards the blue
waters of the Pacific, on which I was
about to start, had too much heart to
refuse him. He-Joe Mel was his
namc-had a young bride and younger
babe, and it was hard to seperate 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 Railroad
contractors and of course there was no
lack Of robbers who were awaiting every
chance to clean out our trunks, and per-
haps clean us poor messengers out Of ex-
istence.
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 q mate had been given me but Joe
pleaded so hard to stay at home, and ex-
planned to me so clearly little plan
of his own, whereby / could make the
trip in safety alone, that [ give in to This
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 of my journey, and he was to
help in 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 good deal to give
Joe his Christmas at home. First we
went to the railroad superintendent, and
got his permission to take my through ex-
press car out of the train and substitute
therefor a grain car. My car was one Of
those kind with a passage outside, and
doors at each end besides those at the
sides.
This made it easier of attack, should
robbers get on the train, as the multitude
of doors required stricter guard against
surprise with an increase of danger.
The grain car had only the two side
doors, which locked from without, but had
two little grated windows for ventiators,
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 7 o'clock on Christmas eve
the train was ready to start Our express
superintendent was down to see his off,
and noticed the changed car, but sup
posing the other to be out of repair said
nothing. He watched me place the val
liable 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 mis-
chief was intended before long. Joe was
helping me in the car, so as to appear be-
for 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 pretending
lucky fellow-that he was SO sorry that
he was going away at Christmas. AS
soon as the door was shut and locked Joe
went through that on the other side, 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 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 packages to be done till
the next morning, when the new en-
gineer would open my door. Ned would
leave us about midnight, 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 slung hammock | carried with me,
and had turned in. The shutter over the
forward ventilator-my car was next to
the engine-I had closed and fastened
with wedge, to keep the wind from
blowing it open. The rear ventiator |
left open, the little six by six hole,
guarded by three iron bars, giving me
ventilation. Near this l had slung my
hammock, and then with a revolver in a
box close to my hand, and with the bell
rope running just over my head, | surely
was in safety, and so l dropped asleep.
How long slept could not tell be-
fore | awakened with start as some
thing passed over my mouth. 1t seemed
like mouse or rat, but it left an over
whelming smell, close, suflocating 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