Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-04
rne nohbsr, or ,he Ro hles.

the train in which be crossed the Rocky
Mountains on his way from San Frau
cisco to New YORK fell into the hands OF
robbers. He writes:
There were 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
curtains drawn, and we all went to bed.
l had been sleeping soundly when ] was
wakened OF 2 o'clock in the morning 10y
the train being suddenly brought to a
standstlll. Being in tho lower berth l
had the advantage of a window TO
look out OF. As there WAS no rail-
way station visible, AMI the train
showed no signs of going on, l
became convinced that something was
wrong and wakened my travelling COM
panion 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 a
man standing near the track what he
wanted. He replied that he merely
wished to know what had stopped the
train, when he received the not very re-
assuring answer, emphasized by o gun
pointed at him, $50 back, you ---,
or III drill a hole through YOU ."
The occupants of the car were now wide
awake, aud popping their heads out from
behind the curtains of their berths dis
cussed the situation in a lively manner.
1t was now evident that we were "held
up" and the conversation turned on
what was likely to be tho upshot. ! was
particularly struck by the good humor
with which every one seemed to regard
the occurrence. 1t apparently was re-
garded by them rs q very amusing ex-
perience. aud by none more than by the
ladies OF our party, who joined freely IN
tue conversation No one could at oil
have imagined that they were eI-
pecting every moment summons
10 march out in deShQ6iHs aud
take their stand in row on the
railway bank. Shouts of laughter
abounied 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 shiverlng in the moonlight.
Amid the merriment, however, there Was
evidently an effort by the passengers TO
make their money as sale as circum-
stances would permit. From all parts
Of the compartment there resounded
the clink of coin. One person opposite
me put his watch in a boot. "Where
have you put your money? |
heard passenger in the next berth
say to another. az have ripped
up my mattress and put it there. " Put
it all in?" "Yaas." "Well, then, l
guess you had better take some out.
Them boys knew you warnt travelling
this line without q cent" Then there
was moro inSing heard as a reasonable
sum was transferred from the mattress to
the owners purse. From an opposite
berth 1 saw u lady emerge ROBBED IN a
dressing-gown. She marched down the
compartment to the door, where thore
stood large tin cistern for holding
iced water. The lid OF this sho hit
ed and dropped in some hundred
dollars. Replacing the lid she went
back to her couch triumphant
". "Guess they won't look there, !"
she said to me rs She passed by. Look
ing out OF the Eindow agsin saw GU
rious sight. By the side OF the track
stood the ongine-driyer and two others
in o row Will. their hands above their
heads. They appeared like so many
boys at school. | saw one else bat
stout middIe-sged man in huge COW
boy hat, with a gun in his hand. He
looked like well-to-do farmer While
was watching the engine-driyer and his
mate got up on the train. the engine
gave short snort, and to our great as
constituent on We went
At the first station we stopped. and we
then got information as TO what had
really occurred. The engine-driver had
seen light set on the middle OF the
track. This was the usual signal TO stop,
and he pulled up. He found five men,
dressed like cowboys, and with black
ened faces, waiting for him, who told
him and his mates TO come down sndhold
ND their hands. Each OF the robbers car
ried pistols and rifle. Having placed q
guard over the three men they proceed
ed to the mail-car. This they left in state
of inexpressible confusion. The bags,
1 think thirty. six in number, containing
registered letters, they took possession
of. They then went to the car where
the safe was kept and ordered tho man
inside to opd4it. He said he could not
do that as it opened by an arrangement
of letters composing word. The word
had been tslegraphed on ahead and he
did not know il. "I'll give you ten
minutes" said the other, "and if you
don't open ii, guess you'll have to die. y
When the ten minutes had elapsed
he was going to execute his threat, but
one OF his comrades interfered, saying
he believed the man was telling the
truth. They then worked at the safe
for some time, but after many attempts
had TO give up hopes OF opening IT.
Afterwards they held consultation as
| to whether they should go through the
cars. but decided there were too many
passengers for them to cope with. Going
down TO the track they removed two logs
OF wood they had placed across the
rails sect up. said the leader polite
| ly to the engine-driyer. "Now you may
90 on-good night" Their whole booty
was thus only the mail-bags with the re-
gistered letters, the value OF which it
was impossible 10 tell. .