The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-03-05
Caught in a Corner.

when 1 was travelling on the South
ern Pacific road. l had just awoke
up out of a nap in the express room,
When | saw something that froze my
blood in my veins. There was cof-
nm in one end of the room, and I
could just cutch q glimpse of q, cruel
face turned upward to me. lifelong
to train robber, Twas sure, and my
rifles were on the other side of the
car. If made step he would shoot
me dead. And then notify his asso-
ciates, who were probably in the pas
senger car.
We had enough gold on board to
make a man rich. felt the RESPONSE
bility, and 1 knew Unjust act at once.
pretended to awaken by making
two or three movements with my
hands and to my intense relief the
cover of the pine box quickly and
quietly dropped to it's place, With
out making any hurried motion, I
rubbed my eyes CAPPED once or twice
and slowly rose to my feet.
"Well, WE'LL" I said aloud, give
been asleep'
Then I proceeded to rummage
around the car as if nothing had hap
pened, but my nerves were not relaxed
an instant. Before the train had gone
five miles further I had some nails in
my pocket. A quick, careless glance
showed me hole in the side Of the
box through which the robber was
undoubtedly watching every move
ment I made.
[ did not go near the revolvers or
rifles. 1t would have taken but a
second for him to have raised the lid
and shot me, ard knew he would do
SO if approached them. Instead Of
that l carelessly assorted a pile of
express matter near the box, with a
view to what was to do.
Twas terribly excited, though I
tried to appear cool. When I was
all ready, l threw several packages
on the lid, sat down on the box, and
hastily nailed down the lid. I heard
a noise within, and felt a pressure as
my prisoner endeavored to raise the
lid. The weight was too great, and
soon had all the nails driven in to
hold fast. He was secured, but to
make sure of him l surrounded the
box with heavy bundles, and piled
upon it the heaviest boxes the car
contained.
sat down for a minute to recover
myself; then, taking down a rifle, I
cooked it loud enough for him to
hear.
"How many more are there aboard
the train?' Iasked, placing my mouth
to a crack between the bricks.
In reply [ heard muffled sound
resembling a curse, and as all the
holes through which he might shoot
were covered with gold and silver,
put my mouth nearer and asked the
question again. ......
received no reply, and, going to
the other end of the car, I quietly
opened the door leading to the plat
form. The night air rushed in and
the noise of the train with it, making
q din in my ears. We were running
at high rate of speed around the
hills that abound in that region.
l stepped to the platform of the
next car. 1t was a smoking-car. The
train robbers were already at work.
Two men in the forward end, within
five feet of me, commanded a view
of every passenger with their levelled
revOlve1s. and two more were going
down the aisle for the valua bles.
1t was a terrible moment to me.
felt keen sympathy for the passen-
gers, whose terror-stricken faces I
could see in the dim light from the
lamps, but was helpless; doubtless
a similar scene was being enacted in
the other passenger and sleeping cars.
was hot and cold by turns. I
watched the Williams going cody on
with their work until l began to
think of my own safety. Charley
Slate, brakeman, was bound hand
and foot to the forward seat; in a
few minutes they would finish their
daring work and came to my car. I
did not doubt that the fellow had
imprisoned in the pine box was an
accomplice, and if they should find
the door of the express car locked
they would break it open to see what
had become of him, and kill me if I
resisted.
This would enable them to take
possession OF the money, bullion and
valuable packages and escape. I
knew they would not kill any one if
he did not resist, and inside of five
minutes they would demand an en-
trance to my car.
Already the two robbers had near
ly reached the farther end of the
smoking car. Thousands of dollars
were in my care; I must save it.
Without any more hesitation I
stepped to the platform of my car,
grasped the lever that operated the
Miller coupling, and with a quick,
strong pull separated the two draw
heads. | was not q moment too
soon. Before the engine and ex-
press car had shot 200 feet ahead of
the the train the door ofthe smoking
car opened and the robbers stepped
out. I heard their cry Of rage, saw
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