The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-08-02

jefferson City Correspondence (July 12) o
the St. Louis Globe Democrat
Concerning the Missouri Pacific express
robbery, Miss Peabody, an ex-J effei son
City lady, and now teaching school at
Denver City, who was on the captured
train, gave the following interesting
statement to the jefferson City Tribune
reporter:
"After leaving OtterviIe,' says Miss
Peabody, l was doing in reclining
chair, probably fast falling asleep. Sud
denly the train was brought to halt,
and moment later a man rushed hur-
riedly through the ear. | believe he was
the express messenger. Some one asked
| him what was the matter. The train is
being robbed, that's what's the matter,
he hurriediy replied, and kept on.
| Then all was commotion and confusion.
| Including myself there were three ladies
in the car, | confess that | was terribly
frightened, and thought | should faint );
but"-and Miss Peobody laughed at the
remembrance--'I saw that there was no
one handy to catch or care for person
in faint, and concluded to omit this
part of the programme, Meanwhile shots
were being fired on the outside, and we
could hear numbers of men cursing and
swearing. 1 suppose the shots were fired
for the purpose of intimidation. | be-
lieve our car was next to the sm0klng-c car.
Directly the car door was thrown open,
and in stalked two of the robbers. The
leader put his hand on the shoulder Of
a brakeman and said, Here, | want you,
and hustled him out. We thought they
were going to shoot him, but l suppose
now they wanted him to identify the ex-
press messenger. 1t was rare fun
mean it is amusing to look back at it now,
nothing funny in it then--to see the pas
sengers concealing their valuables. Here
you would see a man with his boots off,
examining his greenbacks in his socks;
seyeral-Mr Marshall, of Fulton, among
the rest--tossed their cash, watches, etc,
into a coal-box; others were upon the
backs of seats hunting holes for their
pocket books. Wherever anything could
be concealed something was sure to find
its way. The conductor, excited and
nervous, hurriedly passed through and
told all who had valuables to take care
of them. The most ludicrous incident |
can now recall was when a sanctimonious
looking individual, evidently scared al
most out of his wits, broke forth with the
old familiar song, I'm going home to
die no more His quavering, doleful
voice echoed through the car with lugu-
brous effect Some of the male passen-
gers were ungallant enough to interrupt
him with the remark that he had better
be getting his money out of the way in
stead of starting camp-meeting. Hav-
ing finished the hymn he arose and gave
in his experience. He stated that he
had been a follower of the Lord for ever
so many years that he was true and
consistent member of the church that
he had never wronged fellow being,
but that if he was doomed to be MUIR
dered he wanted his remains forwarded
to his family in New York, and 10 write
them that he had died true to the faith
The tumult outside continued. We could
distinctly hear them pounding away at
the Adams Express safe, and their course
oaths and imprecations at being delayed.
Occasionally shots were fired. The lead
er of the robbers, tail, fine looking man,
accompanied by one of his comrades
passed through the car. you need not
be hiding your money said the leader,
we do not intend to disturb you He
wore red handkerchief over his face,
with holes cut for his eyes and mouth.
Below the handkerchief appeared his
beard, very long, but probably false.
His companion was a smaller and
rougher looking man. His mask was
simply a white handkerchief tied over
the lower portion of his face. The upper
part was plainly visible. He remarked
that we must consider them an awful set
of reprobates. The inquiry for arms
showed three pistols in our car. One OF
these were owned by lady. Through
out the whole affair she remained per-
fectly cool and collected, and refused to
accommodate a gentleman with the loan
of her pistol. When some one said this
was the work of the James boys she
laughingly remarked that her name was
James, but she hoped none of her relatives
were engaged in such disreputable bust
ness. The newsboy had pistol and made
his way to the front platform. Look
ing up the bluff, he deserted the figure
of a man and fired. In an instant the
shot was returned. The ball passed be-
tween the plucky newsboy and a gentle,
man who was also on the platform, and
both of them sought shelter without
ceremony. Thinking that the robbers
might fire through the windows, got off
and took position on the floor. The
sanctimonious New Yorker, who was
going away to die no more, thinking,
doubtless that was engaged in prayer,
softly approached and asked if / was
prepared to die ? l was not in a humor
to enlighten him upon the subject. We
were detained about an hour, when the
robbers having accomplished their pur-
pose, gave US permission to proceed. 1t
was one of the episodes of my life shall
ravor Torra+