Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-17
KOBBlNG A RAIuwAY TRAIN,
A Lively Run thet wts h"d' h"rS IN
teresting by an ~Une1pectsf Event

a Lively Run thHt wa
teresting by an unexpected HVsH''
Frou, the Ouqla Rli1,ra9 Ne'os.
The recent robbery OF the United states
EXPRESS messenger on The Rock Island
road brings to mine an incident which &C.
CURED on the b. and VI. railroad in Ne
braska eight or nine years ago, and al
though there were no such serious results
1t was the occasion of considerable ex-
citement at the time, Al h. Minton, the
messenger for the American Express
/ Company between Omaha and Kearney,
was noted for his activity aud move, and,
while not Of a quarrelsome disposition,
he was quick to resent an insult
The run from Omaha TO kearney was
made in daylight, and although there
was very little danger from robbers the
messengers were required 20 wear their
revOlyers in their belts and were fire.
quently enjOined to be constantly Ontheir
guard, ready for any emergency. One
thlng that made the express officials a
little more wary was that the express
and baggage were in one car with an
end door, which was not kept locked.
This was before air brakes were used on
the Is. and NJ, and in addition 10 his regu-
lar duties the bagEagemen served as
brakeman, which Will explain why the
end door was not kept locked.
On the day in question Mlnton mad an
unusually heavy "moneyrun" o rOmaha.
At Greenwood station, while busy at
work with his portfolio in his lap, he was
startled by a man tapping him on the
shoulder and at the same time exclaim-
ing:
"GOu are my prisoner"
Looking around AL saw that there was
but one man, aud that although armed he
did not have his gun raised. Quick as a
fash Al raised his own revolver, covered
his assailant, and exclaimed:
"NOt by a id sight! Get out Of this
car as quick as you can or lll blow the
top Of your head off,"
Mr.. Train Robber" needed no
second invitation, but wen through
the side door as though he had
business elsewhere that needed imme-
attention. Meantime they were
an exciting time on the en-
CINE. Two men MOUNTS the cab and Or
dered the engineer not to turn a wheel.
Mike Eagan, the engineer, was STOPPING
over at the time the order was given, and
when he arose he brought up a 20-pound
chunk Of coal which he threw with such
good effect that his man went tumbling
the engine. The fireman, having such
a good example set for him, jumped for
second man with the cOal pick, who
beat a hasty retreat. Then it was only
the work of a moment for the engineer
to ''pull OUT and leave such danger
GUS ground. When the train
reached Ashland word was telegraphed
TO Superintendent William Irving
the train had been attacked by rob-
bers, who had been beaten off by the train
Immediate investigation was made
by the officials, which developed the fol-
facts: 1t seems that during the
stop at Greenwood on the previous day,
while on the out trip, some dispute arose
between AL MintOn and the station agent,
which the latter gave Al the
lie and was promptly knocked down. AL
jumped back IN his car and went on,
while the agent in his wrath swore out a
for his arrest, and it was the
granger %cOnstables in attempting to serve
the warrant who were taken for train
and so roughly handled.