Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-08
COWBOYS on 4 LARK.
ne, ast Eshs.ss. was rssr oh,re. and
Th<s HAD II.

k'&SAtftttn tHCltc tralu t0c ot1ef usEot
had 30. much fun that they have been
threatening 10 repeat the experiment.
The train had just crossed the river and
Was coming East, when the report OF
half a dozen torpcdocs caused the engi-
ncerto bring Il to stand. Six cowboys
monnted the platforms Of the rear
coaches and sangvoat 70 the train-mcn,
who bad jumped down on the noad-bcd,
I" All right. boys; 20 ahead.'' The con-
duotor walked back, and satisfying
himself that nothing was wrong, gave
the signal, and the train moved on.
When il had got In motion the cowboys
told the conductor that they had a lot
Of friends at Langtry, small station
close at band, whom they wanted to
pick up. and that be must stop there.
As the engineer wbistlcd Cor Lantry the
cowboys guns allwent up, and the con-
ductor pulled the rope. On the plat
form thcro were fifteen or twenty more
cowboys. all drawn up in line. and when
! the train came to a stop they filed into
the nearest car.
"Let Ter got" said the leader, as
: The train started.
Then began performance which has
never had a parallel in this region.
Scattering themselves through the va
rious cars, they took possession of the
conductor and brakeman, and marched
them up and down as they pleased. All
~sre heavily armed, and the passengers
At first feared violence, particularly as
the boys were discharging their re-
yolyers at frequent intervals, but they
were speedily assured that if they
would keep quiet that they would not
be molested. When they had thus
broken the ice and made everybody
aware Of theirpeaceful intentions they
began their walk around.
Leaving one man IN each car TO see
that things went on all right, the others
marched in single file from one end of
the train TO the other, knocking off and
smashing hats, shooting at the lamps,
and yelling like Indians. The cars
were soon filled with smoke, and one Of
the invaders went around opening the
doors and ordering the windows raised.
When the smoke had been dispelled the
boys took the train-boy captive, seized
his wares, and peddled them out
through the train.
One big fellow took basket of pc
cans, and resting il on one arm, held a
revolver about foot long in the other
hand, and made every passenger buy a
glass at five cents each.
=" no kicking, no grumhling, no gig
ging back, now, gentlemen" he said.
"Put up. Have your cash ready, you
fellcrs.''
Every. man who hesitated had the re-
rolver showed unpleasantly close under
his nose, and all surrendered without
much contention. When he had gone
through with the pecan and had turned
the money over to the frightened train
boy, another wanted to try it with a
basket of oranges. just as he was
about TO start out another cowboy said
that they were approaching a siding
where freight train lay, and all hands
ran 10 the platform. As the passenger
train sped by the boys gave the freight
a fisilade with their revolvcrs. which
must have caused some lively scattering
among the train-hands, though it is said
that none of them were hurt. While
this was in progress the boys were yell
ing themselves hoarse. and the passen-
gers were hiding whatever yaluablcs
they had in their pockets.
From this point on the boys divided
mp into parties, and each took car. In
one they made the conductor 90 through
and take up the tickets. Then they COM
PEELED him TO distribute them again.
After this was done one of the boys
wanted to bet anybody in the car S.
that he could shoot plug hat off the
the conductors head, firing from end to
end of the car. This meeting with no
response, he drew his gun and broke the
globe Of the centre lamp in the car,
whereupon his companions reproached
him for spelling with one bullet what
might have made good mark for all of
them at once.
just then one Of the boys pinned his
own sombrero to the door at one end
Of the car, using big clasp-knife for
the purpose, and then, stationing him
self at the other end. announced his in
tention Of filling it full of holes.
"All you fellers in the seats Just
keep STILL" he said, land | won't any
more'n SINCE your hair once in while"
He.was about TO make the first shot
when the brakeman warned him that
the bullets might go through into the
other car, and that if they did they
would probably kill somebody. This
caused him to desist, though he swore
for three minutes that he would carve
the .brakeman's heart out and run the
train over him.
In the next car four Of the boys got
hold of a brakeman and made him go
ont on the platform and twist brake.
When he had got it set they began to
yell tighter" at him, and he pro-
tested that if he set it tighter he would |
twist the handle off.
"That's what we want - they cried. |
''Twist il off. just twist it off,"
The fellow spat on his hands and
with a desperate effort twisted it Just
one notch more and then had to stop,
his auditors greeting him with derisive
jeers. When this was over. one of the
gang caught sight Of an elderly man
who was changing his seat in the car.
Opening the door he called out
"See here. you old Maverick. If you
don't want TO continue this journey in /
n box you take your seat with the rest
Of the gentlemen, and take it quick
lie protested that he was after a
drink.
That don't make any difference.
You sit down and Wen attend TO all |
your wants. Jim, give the gentleman
a drink"
Jim drew a quart flask, and after
helping himself, wiped the mouth of the
bottle and passed il to the traveller.
The old man said be never drank wills
key. He wanted some water.