The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-01
HELD UP"
An Englishman's Experience in
This Country.

AAo OOo1OAys
From time to time there have ap-
peared accounts in the American news
papers of the robbery of railway trains.
These robberies have generally taken
place in remote and outlying parts of the
States, into which the railway system
has but lately penetrated. For train
to be what the Americans called "held
up" was, during the last year, rather
frequent occurrence, and the process
of holding up was done in a manner
80 skillful as to be generally attended
with success. There were cases re-
ported in which the robbers got the
worst of it, but they, too, often made
good their escape, not only with their
lives, but with considerable booty,
leaving the train they had plundered
to go on its way minus its mails and
the passengers stripped of their money
and valuables. Last November, on
my way from San Francisco to New
York, the train in which l crossed the
Rocky Mountains fell into the hands of
these marauding gentlemen; and as my
experiences may be interesting l ven
ture to give them here, though they
may not be so startling as those of
some other travellers who have fallen
among thieves.
left Salt Lake City on the forenoon
OF a beautiful day in the fall of the
year, and after skirting the river "Jor-
dan and the Lake of Tiberias," names
which the Mormons have transferred
from Palestine to their own territory,
the train began to enter wild and
rugged country, and to cross the great
mountain rampant by which the plain
of the Salt Lake is environed. All the
AFTERNOON we slowly ascended, ana it
was evening before we reached the
Castle Gate, formed by two enormous.
steep rocky walls, between which the
railway passes. There were a good
many carriages in the train, and the
pullman" in which / travelled had
about twenty passengers. We were
very sociable and time passed quickly.
AS soon as it was dark the berths on
each side Of the car were made up by
the negro attendant, the heavy cur
talns drawn, and we all went to bed.
L had been sleeping soundly when
was Weakened at two in the morning
by the train being brought suddenly to
stand-still. Being in the lower berth
L had the advantage of having win
dow to look out of. | drew up the
blind; a bright moon was shining and
every object outside was perfectly
clear and distinct. The place looked
wild and lonely enough. Huge boul-
ders of rock were strewn about, and
the hlllsides rose scanned and bare As
there was no railway station visible,
and the train showed no sign of going
on, l became convinced that something
was wrong and Weakened my travelling
companion in the opposite berth. As
he was partially dressed he said he
would go and see "what was up" and
made his way to the open platform of
the car. On his appearing outside, he
was asked by man standing near the
track, what he wanted. He replied
that he merely wished to know what
had stopped the train, when he re-
ceived the not very reassuring answer,
emphasized by gun pointed at him.
go back, you fool, or I'll drill hole
through youn'
The occupants of the car were now
wide-awake, and popping their heads
out from behind the curtains of their
berths, discussed the situation in
lively manner. 1t was now evident
that we were "held up" and the con-
versatiou turned on what was likely to
be the upshot. l was particularly
struck by the good humor with which
every one seemed to regard the occur
renee. 1t apparently was regarded by
them as very amusing experience,
and by none more than by the ladies
of our party, who joined freely in the
conversation. No one could at all have
imagined that they were expecting
every moment summons to march out
in deShGbiIle and take their stand in
row on the railway bank. Shouts of
laughter abounded as one Yankee after
another made dry observations as to
what was likely to happen, and how
the robbers would make hay OF the
beds while we stood shivering in the
moonlight. Amid the merriment, how
ever, there was evidently an effort by
the passengers to make their money as
safe as circumstances would permit.
From all parts of the compartment
there resounded the clink of coin. One
person opposite me put his watch into
q boot
where have you put your money!"