The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-08-28
A. FIGHT ON A TRAIN.

| [EFom the Denver (Col) Tribune, Aug 1871
The passengers on the eastern boundsKan
sas Pacific train, on Saturday night, enjoyed
the rare opportunity of witnessing one Of tia
| fercest fights between desparAdoes and equal.
ly courageous Texans ever Witnessed upos
the Western plains The facts, as related By
one Of the railway men last evening, are as
| follows:
An old drover from the far off plains of
Texas got upon the Kansas Pacific train as
Ellsworth, wish the intention of going to-
Kansas City. There also got on board the
train at the same. station, Two of the cattle
dealers, one of them a short, muscular little
fellow, who plays the most prominent part in
this affair. A party of three of those pestif-
erous thieves known to all Western railways,
monte gamblers, soon made their presence
known in the car next to the sleeping car and
in a few minutes had pocketed the old dro-
ver's last $40 note. 1t was at this juncture
that the above mentioned fistie cattle man
came sout strong'-as Mark Tapley would
say. He interfered In the old drover's be-
half, when the monte men very arrogantly
told him to mind his own business The
young man resented tha hint, word led to-
word, and words to blows. The young cattle
drover managed to put in series of scientific
sledge hammer blows, which soon sent the
monte thief bowling aud pleading over the
seats. The other monte men joined in to
take hand, when the other cattle drover
met them, aud, in short time, punished
them fearfully. Finding themselves beaten,
they 7etreated at the muzzles Of the cattle
mons revovers to the slceping-car, and,
locking themselves up IN the drawing, room,
drew their revolvers and knives and babe o.
fauce to further attack.
A council of war was he'd in the front car,
when it was agreed that the monte men
should be permitted to hold the sleeping-car
until the train reached Saina, where sher-
ifs posse had been teegraphed for. But
this arrangement was not satisfactory to the
brave little drover. He had resolved upon
recovering the old mans money, and appeared
pointed at the windows of the drawing room.
After washing off the blood from his face and
hands he walked boldly into the sleeping
car, where the three gamblers, driven to
bay, stood watch within the locked glasSi
door. With huge navy revolver in each
hand the young man dashed open the door
Of the den, and, pointing his sookc9..revnlyeya
at the astoushed gamblers. coolly demanded
the old drover's lost money.
Finding that he was determined to have it.
or do worse, and seeing the passengers clos
ing in with cooked revolvers, the gamblers
gave up the money. This did not satisfy
she brave young drover. He now demanded
the surrender Of all the knives and pistols in
their possession. After some pareying, the
arms were given up and the monte men held
under guard until!she train rolled into Sab
ma, where sheriff's posse awaited them with
bracelets and guard of honor. They wers
taken from the train and escorted to jail
The young drover deserves more praise and
credit than mere words can express. He
learned the monte gang lesson they will
never forget.