The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-08-17
THE EXPRESS MESSENGER
by CAPT. CHAs. HOWARD.


New York Despatchl
There were comparatively few persons
who knew that George Gleason, the ia
yorite express messenger Of the p c d
St i Road, was a somnambulist. His
strange freaks performed during SOM
nambulistic trance were known TO a
small circle Of friends and associates,
who mentioned them not when our hero
was appointed to the position he was
destined 10 FIJI with honor.
For two years he ran his car without
incident; no train robbers attacked it,
and he became the favorite messenger
of the road. Strange TO say that, during
the time, while he dozed often in his car,
he did not once fall into the somnambu
listic state, and was cOngratulating him
self that the singular trance had left him
altogether. when occurred the incident
am about to relate.
His downward run OH the night eX-
press extended from Coshocton TO
Springfield, distance of one hundred
and eighty miles. There we're few sta
tions of importance on the route, and
ihe train made but three halts between
the two cities. The officers Of the road
were, al the date Of our story, and still
are, careful men in business, jealous of
their patrons interests and gentlemen of
integrity.
When robberies became common on
other roads, the messengers of the 7 c
& st l. were sure to receive orders COM
manding extra precaution, and it was TO
the obedience of these orders that much
Of the popularity of the road was at
;ributed.
Hello" exclaimed Messenger Glea-
son, one evening while looking over the
columns of the Cleveland Herald. The
express car of the C C&I c robbed of
$4,000 That's good haul Why don't
the car thieves try my car? Here I've
been on The road for two years, and new
er for moment has the safety ola dol
lar in my safe been jeopardized.'
He considered himself one of the
luckiest messengers in the country, and
with the paper in his hand, stepped into
the express car which a moment later
moved out of Coshocton.
1t was beautiful Autumn evening,
and the messenger sat at the open side
door enjoying a cigar until the sun went
down and darkness fell over the earth.
Then he shut the door, lighted the lamps.
and saw that everything was safe.
He knew the value of the contents of
The companys safes. and he thought
what haul thieves would make if they
would successfully burglarize his car on
the present trip.
But he felt secure for he dropped into
his own chair and fell asleep.
The train had run of forty-nine
miles before the messenger would again
be called to service, and he thought of
this perhaps when he settled into the
chair resolved upon doze.
By-and-by he rose, and his eylids part
ed.
He walked directly to the safes, which
stood side by side. and opening the COM
bination locks threw wide the burglar
proof doors Then he toook forth valua-
ble package after package, until he had
emptied the strongholds of their treas
ures. 1t is is safe to say that Messenger
Gleason deprived the safes of money
and other valuables in the aggregate of
seventy thousand dollars,
After doing this he closed the doors,
and with the packages walked ont of the
car to the tender.
1t was filled with coal, black and grim
and the heavy smoke of the engine.
The toy of the smart breeze blowing,
beat against his face.
But he did not seem to head it, for he
climbed upon the tender with one hand,
and deliberately secreted the packages
among the coal in one corner.
Having accomplished his singular
task, he returned to the express car,
washed his hands, which had been be-
grimed by the Jumps of coal, and retired
to his chair, where his eyes closed and
he breathed like sleeping man.
George Gleason had robbed the safes
in a state of somnambulism, and their
iron doors guarded the messengers
book and a few other papers of little
value.
He slept for half an hour longer,
when he awoke and rubbed his eyes
His first action thereafter was to consult
his watch.
Were approaching Grafton" he said
TO himself, and drew another cigar from
his pocket for quiet smoke.
A few minutes later the fragrance ola
prime flor del Jamar filed the car, and
the messenger WAS half enveloped in
smoke.
Grafton was yet nineteen miles away.
All at once Gleason heard his name
pronounced, and turned quickly in his
chair
He sprang to his feet the moment af-
terward, and as the half-consumed cigar
fell to the floor, his hand flew to the
pocket that held revolver.
For there stood before him two men
whose dark masks hung far below their
chins.
Don't draw, Mr. Gleason" said one of
the strangers, and the young messenger
saw a revolver covering his head. ave
don't want to be so ungentlemanly as to
slay you here. The road can't spare you
indeed it can't"
Gleasou's hand shrunk away from the
pocket it had touched, and he looked at
the men for moment in silence.
What do you want?" he asked.
What most men earnestly desire
money"
Il have none
But the safes have"
Then open them if you can" said the
messenger with smile.
with your assistance we will" an
syered one of the masked men, who un-
ill then had not spoken, "Mr Gleason,
we didn't come here to parley, and as
we mean business, we will proceed TO it
at once. You have the keys, and you