Telegram-herald., 1891-12-07
TRAIN ROBBERS.
Engineer Jim Tells Of the Express
Messengers Fidelity.


Messengers Fidelity.
We were sitting in the sun on the
south side of the Montana union depot,
IN Butte. when Jim told the story.
Therx was a tremor in his voice and .
moisture in his eyes that marked how
deeply his feelings were moved by the
tale a chance remark led him TO tell
Everyone who knows Jim Cook-and
~ho doesn't know the rugged engineer.
one OF the oldest men in the Union Pa
eiic services-xpows that his heart Is
built in proportion TO his massive
frama Touch him right, ana no wom-
an could be moro tender. rilc him. aud
no grizzly could be more fierce Jim
has seen exciting times in the service
of the Union Pacific, and his mind Is
stored with "reminiscences OF the early
days of transcontinental railroading
We had been chatting in u rambling,
desultory way OF snow-bound trans.
when the subject was suddenly shifted
and happened TO mention the robbery
OF Northern Pacific train near Fargo.
Jim's manner changed instantly
He had been leaning forward. resting
his elbows on his knees and supporting
his chin with the palms of his hands
Now he sat bolt upright, his eyes
flashed and his whole manner seemed
TO Indicate that his brain was conceiv-
ing n food of eloquence his tongue
could not fashion into words Ono
could see tragedy in his face, but tho
next minute the expression changed TO
one of pity. Then he began to talk
wish an adequate idea Of his manner
Of telling it could be given with his
story lie seemed TO see the thing he
was describing
Hold up" said he. II aever was In
but ono. and never hear Of one that
doesn { call up the ghost Of poor Charlie
White ojhaunt me Charlie was IN
express guard in the early days A
pluekier little man never brcathed He
had been a telegraph operator in FRS
CO before be got on our run, and
knew him first rate. Knew his wife,
too. for he was married-a little pink
and white wax-dou sort of woman who
looked like q saint We had long runs
in those days Our division-Charlie
changed with me-cxtendcd from 'Fris-
co TO b" tive forgotten the station
named by Jiml
One afternoon-we left at 2:20-as
we were pulling out of the depot 1t
Frisco ! go; the bell As | brought
her to stand I saw the Wells-F Fargo
man run up to the express car and
hand Charlie a square tin box with
grip handle. Looking back as she got
her head again saw the express agent
make a motion TO Charlie Leaning
half out the door Charlie slapped his belt
and smiled
Just beyond them saw something
elsc-two rough-looking. bearded men.
swinging up one after another on the
rear platform of the last car Then
thought nothing of il. afterward I
knew they had been shadowing the
express agent
"All afternoon 7 had an uneasy feel
ing Every engineer Is Bit supersti
tious. ] suppose. and I remem Der that
] wondered IL my uneasiness wasn't q
premonition Of bad iuck- We ran along
without mishap during the early even
ing but when we stopped to take water
about nine o'clock caught sight Of .
dark figure stealing along in the shadow
of the express
II called to Tom. my fireman. TO see
who II was but when be turned it was
gone This didn't bother me much st
the time. IL might have been brake
or the conductor. but | hadn't noticed
any lantern
while we were tearing away again
~ a pretty good pace suddenly caught
. clicking sound like the putting on Of
brakes 10 was a triae up grade ~
that point and hadn't called for en-
Telling Tom TO keep going as she wos.
climbed back over the tender TO ses
what was the matter
Just "a ! got TO the rear I noticed
. widening gap between the tender and
the express auts realized that we were
uncoupled and that the bell rooe bad
been cut. at the same tiE,e ! saw one Of
the bearded men standing at the brake
wheel of the express lie bad me COW
cred with a siv-shooser
As ! eismbered back 10 the cab I
heard a saot. then half q dozen ~ them
in quick succession Road arenssf
Tom yelled IN ny ear as ! took the
lever brought her up as quick as
could and held her ready &c run for
wari or backward as circumstances
might decide
The train had almost cvrne 90 q
ssardstifl. when | saw gleata Of light
cut theunzh the night about midway
% the ear Then that streak Of light
"a. darxenca ey the s.nGtacned
shallow ~ man. ~hsch use-~j cross
~ise 81 the train sad seemed To melt
cut into The right
rses back. Chs-Iier yelled. ss- I
Thought ~ was abort % iook cut for
shs cause Of cur ssoppiag
pper yeur bead sssin ard III
blow Il 81. said vesee oessls me-
Turning. saw a rssn ~ each ~ th>
cab. front winssorv4 Thev had ius1p~d
up sn The plea ssa ereps bsek aionT-
sisie 81 ths boster
.rThere SEEMED - - sturen - he
rsbhprs Nos naore thar t~s hsd eDsss
ca tie tFsir. aa1 saFs lhs Thsis