The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-11-26

saw one or the DearGeu men standing
at the brake-whcel of the express. He
had me covered with siX-shooter.
LAS | clambcred back 10 the cab |
heard shot; then half Il dozen of
them in quick succession. Road
ageutsr Tom YELLED in my ear as |
took the lever. | brought her up rs
quick as | could and held her ready to
run forward or backward rs circum-
stances might decide.
"rne trtin~ had almost come TO
stand,tiIl. when saw CLEAN Of light
cut through the night about midway of
the car Then that streak of light
was darkened by the heightened
shadow of Il man. which moved cross
wise of the train aud seemed to melt
out into the night.
Get back. CIarlirr | yelled. for |
thought he was about to look out for
the cause of our stopping
"Open your head again and I'll
blow it Off said Il voice beside me.
Turning | saw Il man 1T each of the
cabs front windows. They had jumped
up on the pilot and crept back along
side of the boiler.
There seemed to be Il dozen of the
robbers. Not more than two had come
on the train, | was sure. The whole
thing had been planned. Those near
the engine, with the exception of the
two at the cab windows, made rush
for the express car. As they ran into
the stream of light coming through
the open door Shot fired from the
darkness to the left of the train tum-
bled one of them to the ground. The
others fusiiaded the spot from which
the shot appeared to come, and then
two shots fired under the train from
the other side, and another shot from
away out in the dark. laid one of the
thieves out cold and caused another
one to howl.
The trainmen were beginning to
fight. My blood got warm. had
good six-shooter under the seat, and if
that fellow ut the cab window had
only taken his eyes Off me for Il mo-
ment I'd have been out there helping
the boys. Those ut the rear of the
tram then joined those in front, and
all made Il dash ut the open door of
the express They were all in Il bunch
in the light.
The first man TO enter the door
stood Il moment and then fell back
outside in the crowd. The shot came
from the darkness away out to the
left. Another man tried it. As he
fell on his face in the car the others.
who hal been watching. fired a volley
nj the flash away off in the dark. The
next man who tried to enter the car
succeeded.
L., |.
appeared ut the door. Something was
wrong Two others got in to help
him. Then one Of them Whistlcd, aud
my man ut the window jumped off
aud ran back to the train.
"'Fhat was my chance. Oat came
the gun from under the seat. and rot
Il snapshot ut Tom man. but missed
him. As he turned on me- Tom struck
his arm with Il wrench Knocking the
pistol from his man |. lie Jumped off
into the darkness We backed her
slowly up toward the train, firing as
we went.
Suddenly Il dark form rose up on
Toms side of The track and threw
something into the tender. Tom and
| both fired ut the man. He staggered
up against the cab : cps an.l mroaned.
Then by IA SuDerhuman effort he caught
the hand-rail. and jnSt us we were pre-
pairing Ia give him another shot he
dragged his face into he light.
1T WAS Charlie We both had hit
him!
Pull ont jim. and save the box!
That was all he said. 1t was the
box he had thrown into the tender
the stuff wasn't worth the life of The
boy WHO saved it to the company.
While lifted Charlie up into the seat
Tom threw the old engine wide open
aud we ran away from the train. rob
bers aud all.
1T was forty miles to The nearest
station. a small government post. Tom
fed and worked the engine. | sat on
the seat beside c larlie and held him
up. The rattle and rumble of the
wheels accused me ut every revolution.
''Tncy seemed To be repeating the
words You've killed himr You've
killed him!' Tom made those forty
miles in IN hour; good time over that
roaI ut that day, but it seemed 10 me
an age. As we were running in Tom
gave them bell and whistle both. and
then when she came to stand he
fired two shots. The blueeoats were
out ina jiffr.
Everything WAS told in few
word. Charlie WAS carried into the
quarters and turned over to the sur
geon. Il fine old fellow namel Hlmil-
ton. With an escort of twenty men
we ran back to the train. The robbers
{ h1I lnff Efn,ifntr hsa.
of treasure they had tried 10 20
through the train. There were too
many revoirers among the passengers
and they drew off.
When we reached the post again
Surgeon Hamilton walked up to the
cab. Are YOU jim Cooke said he.
] nodded. Take these TO Mr.. Whites