Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-02-14
IN THE EXPRESS CAR.
A MESSENGERS ADVENTURES.
--Thon,os Aldrich, in Atlantic Monthly


Even in these days of peace, with
every money handler armed for defence,
and surrounded by every safeguard,
''anks are ''touched," stages held up,
'soress cars robbed, and the highway
robber and the horse thief have no COM
plants of lack of business. This being
the case now, you can imagine the state
of affairs during the war, even though
you were not living witness. Along
about 1868 the bad men of the times
reaped constant harvest. Money was
abundant, every day full of excitement,
and embezzlers and absconders outnum-
bered honest men. And, too, banks,
express companies, and other big money
handlers were green to many of the tricks
and schemes, and the idea of buying
revolver for an express messenger out of
company funds would have been voted
down instanter. He must arm bimself,
and if he pulled through he was a good
fellow. If he didn't, it was looked upon
as San act of Providence.
For two years had run on the ex-
press between Cincinnati and st. Louis,
and between St. Louis and Chicago, and
during those years l carried enough
money to pay the national debt. On either
run it was considered an '.off'' time
when l did not have 500, and many
and many Il time l checked up from
$10O, 900 to $3.50, 900 without being ex-
cited over the temporary possession of so
much cash. / carried the old fashioned
portable safe, good enough to keep out
the rain, but no defence against ham,
mer and cold chisel and had one of the
best Colts revolvers that money could
buy. was only year or two over age
when made my first run, stout and ac-
tive. and l think I had fair share of
nerve and pluck.
My first adventure occurred while
making the run between Cincinnati aud
st. Louis. / had been or the road about
six weeks, and the business was so heavy
that we had to have an extra man. While
took charge of the money he looked
after the parcels and boxes, and we had
whole car to ourselves. My assistant
was named John Goodhue, and he had
been one of the check clerks in the
freight department of the Cincinnati
office. He was an easy going good
natured man of forty, much given to
taking things easy, but as he was the only
man the company could or would spare
had to take him as found him and make
the best of it. Whenever we pulled out
of either city we were very busy for the
first half hour. I saw that everything
was properly checked off and accounted
for in the line of money and valuables,
and then assisted him if he was not al
ready through. 1t thus sometimes hap
pened that was busy at my safe in the
corner for the first twenty miles out, and
that little or no conversation was ex-
changed between us.
On this particular evening Goodhue
was ten minutes late at the train, but he
took hold with unusual spirit, and when
the stuff was all in we had the car pretty
well filed. / was at my safe when the
train pulled out, and | heard Goodhue
moving about and going through the
usual routine. We had nothing to put
off until we reached n farm thirty miles
away, and then it was something in the
line of freight. therefore took things
,ssy, and was smoking as did my work,