, 1890-10-28
SLUGGED AND DRUGGED
How Samuel Johnson was Robbed
of SlI6 in a Box Car.
A Couple of Low Down buffers
Treated Him Dirty.
Desperate Work of Tramping
Toughs at Granite Canyon.

Toughs at Granite Canyon.
Samuel johnson, a green young Swede
and withal an honest son Of a sturdy sire,
struck town at IL last night with a hard
luck story. Following the popular advice
of the day the foreigner of rueful coun-
tenance hunted up a policeman and told
his troubles. Roundsman Pat Nolan was
the officer. he saw at once that it was a
county case and turned the man over to
Constable Smith. The latter piloted the
stranger to the office of Sheriff Martin.
In the meantime a LEADER reporter had
cut in and he heard a good story.
Sam johnson worked all summer on
railroad grades in Eastern Nebraska and
saved considerable of his wee wages.
About the middle of last month he was
shipped out from Omaha with a lot of
men to recruit steel gangs on the Wyo-
ming division of the Union Pacific. Most
of this crowd was assigned to Foreman
Pete McDermott, whose territory is be-
tween Laramie ana Carbon. Last Sat
urday they were at Cooper's lake,
a few miles west of the univer-
sity town. On that day johnson and
several others quit. He and two others
who didn't care for the company of
dagoes any longer walked into Laramie.
johnson says he thought his two partners
nice men. They were Americans, had
travelled much and were entertaining in
talk and careless In manner. The limo
cent Swede was charmed with them and
the three became fast friends. They
stopped at the Humboldt house in Lara
mic apd Sunday night took lunch at a
swell place called the New York restaur-
ant. They took a few drinks and it must
have been while cemenang the alliance
and illustrating reciprocity that johnson
showed his bank roll of SIG in cash and
a time check for 50. Then the triumvi-
rate became entirely solidiied. The
Americans, both young, one dark. the
other light, proposed wintering in New
Orleans. Johnson didn't quite grasp the
scheme, but consented to backtrack as far
as Cheyenne, anyhow. He was in for buy
ing three tickets and making a grand entry
into WyomiDR's gay capital in a varnish-
ed car. But with the plebian instincts OF
true born patriots the others suggested a
freight train. They assured johnson
hat free transportation was one of the
perquisites OF their railway connection,
told him that the traiumen would all
recognize them as of the craft and
quickly convinced him that the box car
route was quite proper. They piled into
a house car loaded with coal at the Lara
mie yards and were not disturbed.
AS the train slowed up at Granite
Canyon, a meeting point, the black fell
low. whom johnson plaintively and tune
fully describes as saying that he said he
was a Yankee man." told the Swede to
look out and see what station it was.
johnson hadn't reached the door when
he received a blow over the heal that
downed him. The Yankee man" had
brought a big chunck OF coal on his
crown with crushing force.
The light tramp grasped johnson by
the throat. The black one put n hand
kerchief over his nose and mouth and
poured something on it from a vial. 1t
was the black one who went through the
Swede's pocket. He secured
the SIG, the 80 time check
aud some trinkets aud left the car. The
light robber now concluded hat john
would lay still and started after the man
of money. The victim of the scamps is
OF pretty husky physique aud revived
enough to give the light man a tussle. He
held to him till the exertion and yelling
weakened him and tten let go. johnson
stopped at Granite a couple of trains and
don't know what became of his assailants.
johnson has a serious scalp wound, a
deep cut an inch or more 10 length. He
complained of a dull headache The
Swede held on to the handkerchief and
bottle brought into use after he was
downed. The latter was labeled ehloro-
form and had doubtless contained the mar
cotic.
johnson SAYS he doesn't care a great
deal about his money, that be lis good to
work and can get another Yob," but he
want to see dem fellars once more" He
realizes that after pretending to be his
friends they robbed and tried to murder
him and he feels deeply injured on this
score. The big hearted, honest Swede is
unable to understood how men could be
so low down.
The robbers are probably city toughs.
johnson says they didn't care to work,
and would lay off and go to Carbon.
There Is about s23 due the two of them,
but this will probably go into the Union
Pacific conscience fund.
Sheriff Martin will endeavor to capture
the Yankee man and his pal.
A New Army Cap.