The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-12-01
FIGHTING A ROBBER.
WAS 1T BRAVERY OR WAS IT CASE
OF FooLHARDINess!

For the Possession of "a 81, 900 Money
Package-A Telegrapher's story of One
Winter Nights Experience.
When read of adventures, there comes
to my mind my encounter with q no.
torious outlaw of the name of Ed Dali
ton. For years he had robbed mail
coaches and waylald and murdered trav-
elers who were belated and so unfor-
tunate as to meet him.
was employed by the Northern Pa
cific railway as telegraph operator. 1t
was in the latter part of the winter that
the most terrible storm broke upon that
section of the country that was ever
known. The wind blew a strong yale
from the northwest, and the air was full
of snow.
All trains We're late, and | had found
no time TO leave my Office and take an ex-
press package of -, 900 to the bank for
safe keeping. The station was crowded
and our safe small, SO that / usually de-
posted the company's money in the bank
not liking to risk it in the office. |
had an order from the dispatcher not to
go to bed till after No. 4 had passed.
This was the western bound limited,
due at Cameron at 10 minutes of II.
1t was "a lonely night. The wires
humlned and sobbed in the wind as
though they could not withstand the fury
OF the storm. | had finished my work and
was sitting half asleep near the stove,
which was filled with coal and red as a
cherry, when a sensation of some i'm
| nonIInu duncan taplr ,.D,aa. -
Trying to shake it off, l walked to nv
desk, threw open the key and asked
the operator on the ''night trick at
Hudson how No. 4 was.
'On time," clicked the instrument in
reply, and / stirred the fire, turned the
blaze of my lamp higher and sat down
again.
For 10 or 20 minutes I sat listening to
the monotonous click so musical to the
operators ear. when l became conscious
some one was looking through the win
dow, and a thought of the express pack
age flashed through my mind. At the
same instant a crashing of glass was fol.
lowed by a grutf voice saying:
Move and you are adead man
did not stir, but | realized that | was
looking straight into a six shooter.
While l was wondering how l could save
the money the robber broke out the rest
of the window pane and crawled in over
my desk.
Oh, for some way to reach my trusty
bulldog" which was lying in full sight
under the ticket window. Useless wish.
Ordering me to rise, the ruffian calmly
took my chair and proceeded to warm
his chilled members before cleaning
out the Office, all the while keeping the
revolver pointed at my head. CHANGING
around, he spied my pistol and coolly put
it in his pocket. AS ne rose he said:
well, now | am ready for business.
l will just trouble you for that little
package with the red seals that is in your
safe"
l was desperate enough TO say any
thing and broke into n loud. harsh laugh
as he finished.
"Was ever anything more lucky" |
cried, and my voice sounded like a croak.
why. my friend, | have been waiting
for ii chance to rob the express mpan
for a month. and if You are bound to
take the package we will divide the con
tents and skip together"
he looked at me Il with a
skeptical sheer.
"Bosh! Don't talk stuff, Whatever
you do be quick about it and look a little
out that you play me no trick, or I'll fin
ish you"
| turned the combination and drew
the safe door open, making up my mind
to throw myself upon him if he moved
his revolver away for an instant. II did
not seem likely that opportunity would
favor me, but as | took the money from
the safe and handed it to him he lowered
his weapon.
The critical time had come. If should
fail to overpower the fellow. it meant
death for me.
l sprang upon him with the strength
of a mailman. and SO unexpected was the
that we both went sprawling
on the floor, the revolver discharging it.
self ~harInlessly as we fell. The robber
struggled to his feet. and lifting
me completely from the floor forced me
through the ticket window.
But | had wrestled often while at col
and as ! crashed through the glass
| whirled him around, throwing my left
foot back of his in such "A way that the
next instant found him on his head in Il
corner. Wild with excitement, | pinned
him to the floor, pulling my old bull
dog from his pocket and changing the
situation by placing the muzzle against
his temple.
Lie still, my friend" | painted, ''or it
will be worse for you."
AT that very moment | heard the ia
niliar whistle of No. 1. Which was APP
preaching the station, but would not
stop unless signaled. l was master of :
he situation now. | could stretch out
ny left hand and touch the signal board. ;
md with a loud cry of triumph that
strange and savage in my own l
! turned il. | heard the airbrakcs ,
md escaping steam, and then the train ,
to II full stop. Directly aftcrward {
he office door opened. and the conduct |