Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-25

tuIOuSu tnat country. de would not have
had the opportunity to comment In public
upon the herolsm of the rebel soldier whose
acts and convictions he 60 greatly respects.
THE U. r. ROBBERY.
A Few Particulars of the Bold Trans.
action.
Omaha Bee.
When the Union Pacific express train
the one that wes robbed at Big SPRING.
arrived here at $50 o'clock last evening, a
reporter of the Bee was At the depot to
interview the passengers and trainmen to
great robbery.
Andy Riley, of this city, brother of
Thomas Riley, was passenger of the train,
and was q target for the robbers, who shot
twice 1T him while he was standing on the
platform of the passenger coach that was
robbed. When the train stopped at Big
Springs, he and ex-Councilman Cummings,
formerly Of this city but now of Sidney,
stepped out on the, car platform 10 get
some fresh air. The robbers commanded
them to "get back into that car" Mr..
Cummings got back as quick as his two
legs would allow him. Mr.. Riley, not
understanding the order, started to come
down from the platform on the depot plat
sred f AWAY wSsn at ihs him. n.ssSAs one &sn bsll
grazed the left side of his left hand, leaving
its mark there, cutting hole in his coat
sleeve, it then buried itself in the door
frame. The other ball narrowly missed
him and buried itself in the woodwork of
the car only few inches from the first
bullet, the marks of both balls-being
plainly visible on the car. While Riley
was recovering rom his scare the3robbers came
up and aided insult to oinjury; BY relieving
him of two silver watches and $27 in
money.
When conductor Patterson was halted, as
he stepped fion the train 10 the platform,
he threw up his hands, according to orders,
and was robbed of his money and his watch,
but he got his watch back again, as the rob.
bers dropped it out of the Aour.sack into
which they threw all their loose plunder,
and when they had gone the watch was pick
ed up by its owner.
Patterson at first thought the men were
joking, and kept on walking, remarking to
them. "Nou wouldn't shoot anybody,
would you?" Barnhart, the station agent,
cried out: "Pat they mean business" and
then Patterson began to think so too.
Six masked men robbed the passenger
ously at each end, in two parties, with
hold up their hands. and every body obeyed
that bulldozing command. The passengers,
with their hands all up, looked as if they
were passing unanimous vote on some
question, AMI in fact they were. The high
waymen then event through" them syste-
matically, making an almost clean sweep of
watches, jewelry, and cash. They secured
between $1,000 and $1,000, the amounts
differing according to the various statements
of passengers.
They searched one man three times and
found nothing, when one of chem said,
Damn you, VIC amt satisfied yet" and they
then opened his valise with no better sue
cess, after which they left him. But the
man beat them after all. as he concealed
over $400, in bills of large denominations,
between his fingers as he held up his
hands.
Another man had only ninety cents and q
tobacco box, both Of which were taken
from. him. "Give me back my tobacco box, "
asked the passenger. Damn you and your
tobacco box" was the reply. Of course it
was not returned. and the passenger had to
chew the bitter cup of Disappointment.
They did not rob the ladies, and to q
couple of cripples they refunded.
Councilman Cummings, it is said, saved
his money and watch BY throwing them on
the floor, while Texas cattle man manag.
ed To securely hide $3,100.
4 colored porter, just as the train stop
senger to post letter. He was halted by
the traiDrobbers. after having been ordered
three times to stop, and he was relieved o
500. he didn't seem to realize the situa
ton until they threatened to shoot him.
The highwaymen attempted to enter tht
sleeper, but found the door securely bolted
and they gave it up as the freight train wa!
approaching. Had they got into the sleeper
they no doubt would have made another
big haul from the passengers. They NJ
doubt intended to rob every passenger OF
the train, and would have done 80 had no
the approaching freight interrupted them il
their work.
John II. Brophy, Of Laramie, who wa
formerly sheriff of Albany county, Wyo
ming, for two years, during which time h
arrested many desperate characters, was .
passenger in the sleeper. He got up, pu
on his pantaloons add went into the coach
where the robbers were operating. As he
opened the door the boea robber greeted him
with q cooked revolver and the conundrum
l'who in hell are your "A passenger" was
the reply. Hanks up, shut that door, and
get up in the corner" said the boss. Bro.
ply was relieved of 5000 in loose change
that he had in his pocket. When they go,
through and passed out of the car in single
file the boss backed out of the door and told
Brophy to shut it: Brophy says he had six
dollars worth of fun acting as doorkeeper
and he felt considerably more at ease when
they we're gone, as he had $1,000 in his
vest, which he had fortunately left in his
berth in the sleeping car.
The excitement in the passenger coach
that was robbed was intense. 1t was sort
of quiet subdued character, but none the
less trying to the nerve, Of the passengers,
each one Of whom no doubt imagined that
the revolvers were al pointed at himself OF
herself as the case might be. Looking into
the muzzle of cooked revolver is not a,
pleasant as viewing some more picturesque
scenery.
The passengers in the other coaches wer,