The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-05


who was passenger on the Wabash train which
had on board the mailman Reaume, tells
thrilling story of the trip between this city and
Pekin, ILL.,, where he left the train. Mr.. Cook
was, unfortunately for himself, the special
object of the madmans luminosity, and is in con-
sequence better informed than anybody else as
to what passed on the train.
Mr.. Cook did not notice Reaume until Missouri
City was reached, when, after taxing supper IN
the dining car he went forward to the smoking
car. Having finished a cigar, he returned to the
char-car and attempted to enter the wash room,
but found it locked The porter, who was near
by, remarked that they had crank in there
well, you had better let him out" replied Mr..
Cook, and thought nothing more of the matter.
Reaume came out into the car after time but
Mr.. Cook did not notice anything peculiar about
the man except that he eyed him very closely.
Reaume passed through into the smoking-car,
and it was then that Mr.. Cook saw that he had
long navy revolver in his hand. This was
about $50 o'clock Half an hour later the mad
man came back into the car. This time he had
long dlrk-knife in addition to the revolver.
The latter he carried with his hand upon the ham,
mer. He eyed Mr.. Cook as upon the former oc-
casion, but made no demonstration. In short
time the man went into the smoking car again,
only to return to the char-car short time after
ward This was continued at intervals until
Hannibal was reached Here Mr.. Cook, who had
been kept awake all night by the strange actions
OF the man. went out to take lunch, and not
having seen the man for half an hour or So con-
graduated himself that the crank had quoted
down or had left the train. The rest of the story
is graphically told by Mr.. Cook
After getting lunch" said he, II went into
the smoking car to while away an hour with the
conductor Billy Hall, old friend of mine. |
remarked that he had his crankiness in the
baggage car, at the same time giving me the
comforting assurance that he (Reaume) was
onto me- | had hardly time to make reply,
when the fellow came sneaking in from the bag
gage car. Seeing us talking together seemed to
arouse his suspicious, for he came up to Hall,
who was standing in the aisle beside my seat,
and pointing to me said: There is the man who
has been talking about me, and one of the men
who are trying to kill me. If he lays finger on
me will kill him. have good mind to give
it to him anyhow. In fact, [ think I'll do it
now With that he raised his revolver and
showed it abruptly in my face. l was in.
wardly reviewing my past life to find
ward in the next world and Il confess was not
wholly satisfied with the retrospect), when Hall
knocked the pistol aside calming the fellow
with, You are mistaken in your man. He has
not been talking about you. have just taken
up his ticket With that the fellow retired into
the baggage car again and felt relieved. was
not wholly at ease, however. / could still see in
my minds eye, visions of pistol, whose mouth
seemed as large as lamp chimney, thrust with
startling disregard of ceremony directly under
impression on me anything but pleasing My
first thought was to secure revolver and per
forate him with holes the moment he should
show his face at the door I was forced to
abandon this for the reason that I could not find
pistol in the car"
''What did you do in this extremity"
81 resorted to strategy. Knowing that my
glasses and eagle eye impressed him unfavorably
went into the chaircar where the lights were
burning low, and removing the offensive specta
TxNJa I0,x1
head up in paper so as to conceal my hair but
not to obstruct my vision, laid down to await
developments. Pretty soon he came sneaking
in at the door, and with his revolver in one hand
and his dirk in the other, he moved stealhily
through the car, stopping in front of each seat
and surveying it's occupant as if looking for
somebody. You may be sure it was with feel
ing of relief that he failed to recognize me,
and felt better after that AS if satisfied was
not aboard, he went into the smoker again,
dirk but could not induce him to part with his
pistol. All this time the was as quiet on
ordinary occasions. The passengers were
curled up in their chairs asleep.
had charge of the train. The conductor,
after the episode in the smoking car wired to
Jacksonville for officers to arrest the man. Two
policemen put in an appearance when we pulled
into Jacksonville, but Reaume, catching sight of
their stars, locked himself in the gents closet,
and said he would kill the first man that at
tempted to arrest him. The greatest Difference
was paid to his wishes, and he held the fort
unmolested. It was about daylight, and l
thought this favorable opportunity to battle
my fevered brow, as / had not closed my eyes
during the whole night l accordingly went
into the washroom and commenced my ablu-
TONS Whether he was able to identify me by
my splash, or whether he by some occult power,
Certain it is that hardly had got the soap on
my hands when he yelled out, That old man
with spectacles on is washing / believe I'll
give it to him through the door, 1t did not take
me long to consider that the other end of the car
was the best place for me, and | accordingly fin
ished my toilet in the ladies' wash-room. l had
just returned to my chair, the train having start
ed when the mailman came out of his strong
hold, and, contrary to his CUSTOM strobe rapidly
through the car, not looking to the right or left,
and locked himself in the ladies' closet To this
| firmly believe | owe my life, for, had he seen
me, do not doubt he would have put a bullet
through me-"
''Were the passengers still unconscious of
what was going onF
"No; it was after day break when we left Jack
sonville. and the passengers were preparing
for breakfast They made no demonstration,
however, and, with the exception of two
ladies, who got on at Jacksonville, all
acted very coolly. The ladies were naturally
very much unneryed, and asked to be taken into
the baggage car or some other place Of safety.
When left the train at Pekin, Raume still had
possession of the ladies' closet, and occupied
position at the window, with his revolver showed
over the sill, its size reminding one of cannon
protruding through the port hole of vessel.
took not to get in range, and you may be sure
l did not tarry to bid him good bye or to request
a lock of his hair. l was satisfied that / would
hear more of him, and told the conductor that if
he was not captured by surprise he would kill
somebody before he reached Chicago l was &C
cordingly not surprised to hear of the terrible
massacre arriving here this morning"
'How is it, Mr.. Cook, that you are the only
person against whom he directed his suspicion?
He told me at the Union Depot that there was a
large man on the train who was following him. !"
THAT is what puzzles The large man
you refer to was Mr.. Day, son of an old friend
of mine, whom l met here Saturday, and who
accompanied me East 1t seems that Reaume
spotted US both when got the train, and
the only way / can account for his not having
tackled Day is that the latter was asleep the
whole time that was playing a game of hide
and-seek with the mailman. He was consider