Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-10-06
A Passengers Account 81 the Unien
Pacific Robbery.

men and two or three ladies', who were
passengers on the Union Pacific train
which was seized and plundered by ban
ditti at Big Spring at late hour of
Tuesday night. The Hon. Guthrie
Smith, advocate; Mr.. Mitchell Thorn
son, merchant, and Mr.. James How
den. accountant, Of Edinburgh. Scot
land, were returning from sightseeing
sojeurn in the mountains of Colorado.
A reporter for the Times called upon
these strangers ut the Grand Pacific,
last night, and found them disposed to
talk of their adventure. MIR. Smith re-
lated the particulars Of the episode SUBJ
stantialiy as follows:
ITO begin with, the train consisted
of express and baggage cars, first and
second-class coaches, two Pullman
sleepers, and the directors car of the
Central Pacific-the last being occupied
by Mr.. Sanford and his family, of San
Francisco. The night was beautiful.
BY 10 O'Clock every body had turned
into bed The berths in our car were
all occupied. In fact, all the cars were
pretty well filed. There were few
ladies and some children in our coach
which, by the way, was the last car but
one. 1t was, think, about half-past II
o'clock-perhaps little later-when
the train halted at Big Spring. l had
been asleep, but the profound stiffness
of the halt awoke me, and something
prompted me to raise the window. Just
then the conductor passed alongside the
train, escorted by two men-each of
whom carried, or fourished, rather, a
large revolver. As thrust my head out
l heard the conductor say: upon my
honor as a gentleman, 1 protest that l
do not know the combination of that
safe.' knew what that meant. took
in the situation at glance, and took
in nv head, also, for fear might lose it.
In moment every body under
stood that the train was in the hands of
robbers. The men in our car hurriedly
dressed themselves and collected at the
front end of the coach. The door was
locked, and remained fastened until the
robbers had fled The doors of the
sleeper ahead of us were also locked.
The conductor of our car told us We
could do nothing but patiently await the
movements of the thieves. Our colored
porter, rs the train pulled up to the sta
ton, had gone out to mail some letters,
and had run plump into the gang.
They thrust revolvers into his face and
made him hand over the So his vest
pocket contained. That was despicable
robbery, wasn't it? No gentlemanly
thief would rob a negro of Sc. In our
country robber would never stoop TO
l. la -l.. In
haved right bravely, and the men were
carried away with excitement. We
found We had three pistols in our car,
and there were two or three En-
glishmen who, smarting under
the humiliation of being beset
by highwaymen, wanted to go out and
attack the men. Blu, nobody ventured
out. A little girl, awakened by the
commotion, on being told by her moth
er that robbers had possession of the
train and were taking all the money,
turned over and said: well, I've got
no money, have l, mamma?'
"AEer the robbers had left the passen-
gers swarmed through the ears, and all
related their experiences The engi-
neer and conductor were looking pale,
and trembled with excitement. The
robbers had fired two shots at the engi-
neer. One of the bullets struck an oil
can and passed through ii. They I'M
doubtedly intended TO kill two or three
persons, in order that they might the
more easily rob the passengers. A man
stood on the front platform of one of
the coaches as the train came TO halt
Three men with reviewers, rushed up,
saying, Get down, Get down. and
bang, bang, went one of the pistols,
before the man fully comprehended the
situation. Both bullets inflicted 4 slight
wound in one finger. He fell back into