Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-03-01
RESOLUTE ROSS
The Man Who Stood Oft the {. II. Train
Robbers.
Salt Lake Tribune.

Salt Lake Tribune.
Yesterday Mr.. Aaron Y. Ross, the brave
defender OF the Central Pacific express car
when attacked by robbers, came down from
Ogden and is guest at the Walker House
Mr.. Ross is one of those solidly built men
with a commanding presence which wins for
him respect wherever he goes. He weighs
over 200 pounds is about six feet three
inches high, OF pleasant address and man
of much intelligence. He was born in Maine
on March %, 1885. He went to California
in 1859 and has ever since remained on the
Coast. He engaged in mining in California,
and since then has mined and prospected in
Idaho and Montana. Not succeeding in that
occupation, he went driving stage between
Helena and Fort Benton, through a country
infested by Flathead Indians, but he always
escaped raids by them, as his commanding
appearance and reputation of bravery was
enough to protect him at all times.
His next occupation was as shotgun messen-
ger on the stages between Corinne and Helena.
After this, he was express messenger on the
Eureka and Palisade road. He then went to
the Bodie and Carson route, after which he
took a position on the Salt Lake and Phoebe
line. He then became messenger between
Ogden and Reno, on the Central Pacific. He
in his life in the West, which have shown
his GOODNESS and clearheadedness in times OF
trouble. His action at the attempted train
robbery was fine example Of his coolness,
by which the robbers were toiled and the
passengers escaped being robbed. He said
to Tribune reporter yesterday, in describing
that event, that the first thing he did was to
put the books and papers belonging to the
Express in the safe and close it, after which
he formed a barricade for his protection and
awaited results, firing at the openings in the
door whenever the robbers attempted, or he
thought they attempted, to enter. He de-
scribed his car as being really no protection
except as shielding him from sight, as the
walls were one-inch red wood boards, so that
their bullets would easily pass through.
Several years ago large mining company
in Idaho was troubled about water
being turned from their ditch at a
point up in the timber. Ross was
asked what he would protect the ditch for,
and he told them he would do it for Shopper
day. This the company thought enormous,
and they suggested that they could employ
men at $40 per day. Ross told them if they
wanted cheap men to employ them, but they
finally concluded to send him. He went up
to the place, took possession of the cabin,
w
on the ditch. The beligerent parties came
around and were about to begin their work
of taking the water from the mining COM
pany, when Ross told them they had better
desist if they did not want to 60 to the peni-
Tertiary. His spleasant, but determined man
ner, and the sight of his gun was enough for
the protection of the ditch. He remained
six days, when he was called in and payed
off. Two cheap men were sent up to take
his place. Ross told the company that these
chaps would not hold the water long and his
prediction proved true. A few hours after
ward, the men were driven of, and they
rushed into town to ask protection.
1t was only last March that he captured
Tremaine at Ogden, amid the promiscuous
shooting going on at the time, and just after
Tremaine had snapped a revolver at him, so
closely that Ross would have been kill if the
discharge had exploded, and yet Ross was
the coolest person of all among the hundreds
around the depot at the time
He still has his left hand tied up, but it is
nearly well of the effects of the shot he re-
ceived at Montello. At that time his body
was struck twice with balls, pocket-book
and some letters preventing his being hurt.
Speaking of the robbers, he says he talked
with them on their way to ElkO, when he
acted as one of the guards and that they
looked upon robbery as much of business
and as legitimate as any avocation of life.
This he classed as making the men unworthy
of living, and he said the sooner such men
can be gotten rid of the better.
With all his bravery, Mr.. Ross is one of
the most genial and kind-hearted gentlemen
to be found anywhere. He went yesterday
with Sheriff Turner to the Holy Cross Hos
pital to see Nay, the wounded bandit. He
met in this city many old acquaintance who
were glad to do him honor, and was intro
duced to many gentlemen who expressed
qualification at being permitted to shake him
by the hand and thank him for the good he
has done this country by the manner he de-
feated the attempt to rob his car.