Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-02-20
VAILED IN A COFFIN.



Daring Train Robbery.
The tightest corner | even got into,
said the express messenger, was when
i was travelling on the Southern Pa
cific road. ! had just woke up out OF
a nap in the express room when | saw
something that froze the blood in my
veins. There wasa coffin in one end
of the room, and could just catch a
glimpse of the cruel face turned to-
ward me. Ii belonged 10 a train rob
Der, | WAS sure, and my rife were on
the other side of the car. If | made a
step he would shoot me dead. and then
notify his associates, who were prob.
ably in the passenger car.
We had enough gold on board TO
make a man rich. | felt the response
bility. and | knew | must act at once.
/ pretended TO awaken by making two
or three movements with my hands,
and 10 my intense relief, the cover of
the pine box quickly and quietly
dropped to its place. Without making
any hurried motion | rubbed my eyes.
gaped once or twice and slowly rose TO
my feet.
swell, we'll" | said aloud, I've
been asleep"
Then | proceeded to rummage
around the Car as if nothing had hap
pened, but my nerves were not re-
Taxed an instant. Before the train had
gone five miles further ] had some
nails in my pockets. A quick, care
less glance showed me a hole in the
side of the box through which the rob
Der was undoubtedly watching every
movement | made.
did not 60 near the revolvers or
rifles. 1t would have taken a second
for him tohave raised the lid and shot
me, and | knew he would do so if |
approached them. Instead Of that |
carelessly assorted a pile of express
matter near the box, with a view TO
what | was 10 do.
l was terribly excited, thought tried
to keep cool. When all was ready !
threw several heavy packages on the
lid. sat down on the box, aud hastily
nailed down the lid. ! heard a noise
within. and felt a pressure as my pris-
ner cndeavorcd to raise the lid. The
weight was too great, and | soon had
all the nails driven in to hold him
fast. lie was secured, but TO make
sure Of him ! surrounded the box with
heavy bundles, and piled upon 1t the
heaviest boxes the a contained.
sat down for a minute to recover
myself; then taking down a rifle |
cooked il loud enough for him TO hear.
How many more are there aboard
the trainf' | asked, placing my mouth
to a crack between the bricks.
In reply | heard a mufIled sound re-
sembling a curse, and as all the holes
through whict he might shoot were
covered with god and silver, | put my
mouth ncarcr nd asked the question
again.
/ received poo reply, and, going TO
the other end Of the car, | quietly
opened the ipor leading b. the plat.
form. The night air rushed in, ana
the noise OF the train came with il,
making a din in my ears. We were
running at a high rate of speed
around the hills that abound in that
region.
stepped to the platform Of the next
car. IL was "A smoking car. The
train robbers were already at work.
Two men, in the forward car, within
five feet Of me, commanded a view OF
every passenger with their leveled
revolyers, and two more were going
down the aisle for the valuables.s
II was n terrible moment 10 me. |
felt keen sympathy for the passen.
gers, whose terror stricken faces /
could see in the dim lights from the
lamps, but | was helpless; doubtless q
similar scene was being enacted in the
other passenger and sleeping cars.
Already the two robbers bad nearly