West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-03-07


time either read or rode out over the
trails in the delicious Indian summer
weather.
One night about the middle of DC.
tober, We had a terrific thunder and
wind storm, with binding fall Of rain
and hail Ii came up after the the west
bound train had left, and about an hour
before the eastern train was due. Twas
awakened by the noise, and got up 60
10 out. The Tain was falling in tor
rents, and the wind shook the building.
while the Lighting flashed inressantly.
was still looking out watching the
iuilous storm. when an unusually bright
Hash revealed for an instant the figures
OF group of horsemen loping
across the prairie toward the station. /
stood still 10 catch another GLIMPSE OF
them, If possible. but without success;
they had probably turned off to the
left.
shortly afterward | heard them at the
other end Of the building, where they
stopped, supposed, to seek shelter
from the storm; or possibly they were
going 10 take the train. It was not un-
usual for passengers 20 come around an
hour before train-t time, so | thought
lit,le of il at the time.
However, before | left the window I
heard them tramping around the plat.
form TO the door, and drawing back to
one side, l waited 20 see them pass.
Between trains always kept lamp
burning, but turned down low. and il
shone out now through the window;
and as the men stepped into the faint
bar of light, got quite distinct view
of them.
They were all heavily built Each
one wore yellow ''sllcker" coat, and
had his slouch hat pulled down close To
Keep of the rain, aud around each ones
lace, Just below the eyes, was tied red
'harvester's" handkerchief. This struck
me as unusual, and l was puzzled for a
moment, until it occurred to me that
perhaps they were worn as a protection
against the hail
a moment later they were pounding at
the door Tor admittance Now, as a
rule, did not like to admit any one 40
long before train time. Isometimes had
express money packages on hand, with
no safe TO put them In. / once carried
package of three thousand dollars In my
pocket three days before tEe owner
called for il. / was somewhat appre-
hensiye at times for my safety.
That night, however, l had only
few dollars of my own aud an almost
empty mail pouch, but before opening
the door, | sang out: who's there.
and hat do you want2"
Passengers for the train" came the
answer "We'rc all wet, an wanter get
in out o. the rain"
Iunloc ed the door, and they crowded
into the room. In the brighter light in.
doors tho handkerchiefs that concealed
their faces looked so much like an at.
tempt at disguise-and a pretty good
one at that-that for moment / was
startled, and made a hasty step toward
the ticket-ofiice. Before / could take
another, however, one Of the men struck
me with his fist, and though the blow
was not hard one, IL was so unexpected
that 1t knocked me completely oil my
feet. Then two OF them seized me
while ! was down, turned me on my
face and held me while the others bound
my hands firmly behind me. They next
bound my feet. and then rolled me over
again on my back.
"Now, my chicken" said one. who
appeared to be the leader, 1--WE ain got
moth n agin you, an won't hurt you as
long as you keep quiet; but sure as YOU
yell or make noise, there'll be some
shootin."
They seemed to be familiar with the
Office and It's surrounding, and probably
had been there before Two of them
picked me up and carried me toward
the freight room while another went
ahead with the lamp and opened the
door. Here they looked around for n
moment, then laid me down against the
side Of the building with an old coat
under my head for pillow, and bidding
me keep num-" returned to the wait.
ing groom.
Thus left alone in the dark began to
think and pretty fast, too, for / was
thoroughly excited.
Their scheme was evident enough to
waylay the train there and rob the ex
press and mail cars. The express mos
sen2er always had money in his safe on
the cast run, and not infrequenuy gold
bullion from the mines further west. so
in case they were successful they would
secure a large sum There had been
several like attempts throughout the
country lately, and / felt sure that this
was their object
By taking the trainmen by surprise
they might Overpower them. then 50, arat.
ing the mail and express cars from the rest
ot the train, run them n mile or two
further east with the engine and plunder
them at their leisure. This plan had
been. successfully carried out on another
road a short time before, and there was
no reason why st should not be again
successful unless, in some manner.
could prevent it.
tried to loosen my hands, but they
were tied too securely-sO tightly that
the cords almost cut the nesh. Then I
reelected that even II ] were loose.
should be unable % get out and flag the
train, FOR both freight doors were pad.
locked and the key was in the ticket.
Office drawer.
About this time the door leading to
the waiting-fOOm was Opened aud one
Of the roughs looked in.
Say, Jouug foIler, arc you alive yetl1
he asked.
o. es," I responded
'WoI. we wanter know If there's
anything you've got TO do this here tela
gruph machine 90 they WON'T suspect
nOihn'- any report 90 maker
This was pretty cool. and for moment
] thought ] might still have an oppor.
tunity to warn the dispatcher and was
O. u. q