The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-09-21

sengers. Miller remained at the en-
CINE. When the whistle of the freight
train was heard the robbers passed the
word along to light out. The engine
fires were drenched with water and
they ordered the engineer to empty the
water tanks. He said he had 100
pounds of steam on and the engine
would explode il the tanks were emp
tied.
As evidence of the utter malevolence
of the leader Of the gang, 1t Is proper to
state that when he started away from
the train, after having treated every
body else with reasonable courtesy, and
bidding them a pleasant farewell, he
| turned to Miller, and placing a revol.
yer against his head, Missed: ''You dir
! ty son of a b-,ifI thought you knew
that combination | would blow your
brains out ~
THE CONDUCTORS STORY.
NJ. NJ. Patterson, conductor Of the
despoiled train, arrived here yesterday
with Charles Miller, the express mes
senger. Patterson says that when the
train stopped at Big Springs he sprang
off and started for the telegraph Office.
The moon was shining brightly, and as
he started up the steps leading to the
platform, two masked men, with a re-
volver in either hand, ordered him to
halt and throw up his hands One of
the fellows had a mask made of the let
tered portion of q -four sack, and Pat
~terson, supposing the affair was a cow
boys joke, laughed at the ludicrous
mask and walked IN. One robber said
Wen show you that this is no laugh
ing NATTER - at the same time snap
ping his pistol. The cartridge failed
to explode, and as the mnzzle was but
a few inches from Patterson's head his
escape was miraculous. The agent,
Barnhart, called out TO Patterson, tell
ing him ''this is business, " and Patter-
son threw up his hands and was guard
ed. The express car had then been
entered. The colored porter soon fol-
lowed Patterson, and as he came up a
robber ordered him to halt and throw
up his hands. He paid no attention,
and was threatened with death. Pat
terson and Barnhart began lodging to
get out of the way in case the porter
was fired at, and when the darkey at
last realized his position he wilted so
suddenly that Patterson could not help
laughing, although poor Miller was
then heard pleading with the villain
who abused him. Patterson then in
terceded in Miller's behalf with the re-
suit, as shown above, of saving his life.
When the gang left the express a the
leader went through Patterson, taking
his gold watch and about $50 of fare
money, but missing q wallet containing
800.
The next move wa toward the first
class coach, the robbers avoiding the
second-class coach, although nj man
in the latter had 81, 900 in greenbacks
on his person. They ordered Patter-
son to lock the doors, but he denied
having the key. They then ordered
him to hold up his lamp while they
''took up a collection" as it was face
tiously expressed. He declined, saying
81 am no highwayman-hold your own
light HIS lamp was snatched and the
passengers, who had already obeyed an
order to throw up their hands, were
searched. Jack Brophy, Of Laramie,
who was in the sleeping car with his
wife, reused up from sleep about this
time, and stepped out, leaving his gold
watch, diamond pin and, wallet, which
contained 1900, in the berth. The
guard at the door of the other coach or
dered him inside, told him he was "a
heightened rooster" and must have
money, as he travelled in the sleeping
car. Brophy denied this, and, point
ing to a lady passenger said: THAT is
ment." The robber took Mrs. Bro
PHYS pocket book, containing sc, from
Jack and let him off.
While Patterson was watching the
robbery and admlring the almost uni
versal good bumor Of the passengers, he
thought of the approaching freight
train, and asked leave to go out and
flag it. This was granted, and a guard
sent with him. AS he passed the sleep
er he coughed loudly, thinking to
awaken the inmates, and the guard did
not notice it until they had traversed
the length of the car, when he ordered
Patterson back. The leader of the
gang then got off and asked Patterson
to open the sleeper. He denied having
the key and said the quickest way to
get in would be to send to the engine
and bring up the porter. He again
asked permission TO flag the freight,
and was again sent out. The
rear car of the train contained Mrs.
Stanford, wife of the ex-governor of
California, and her family, and when
Patterson reached this car his guard
I