The herald., 1893-11-10
FIGHTING A ROBBER.
WAS 1T BRAVERY OR WAS 1T A CASE
OF FOOLHARDlNESS?

Packagc-A TeIegrapher's Story of One
Winter Nights Experience.
When read of adventures, there comes
to my mind my encounter with a 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 strong gale
from the northwest, and the air was full
of snow.
All trains were late, and I had found
no time to leave my Office and t:Nle an ex-
press package of $4,000 to the 0anh for
safe keeping. The station was crowded
and our safe small, so that | usually de-
posted the company's money in the bank
mot liking to risk it in the Office. l
had an order from the dispatcher not to
go to bed till after No. had passed.
This was the western bound limited,
due at Cameron at 10 minutes of II.
1t was a lonely night. The wires
hummed and sobbed in the wind as
though they could not withstand the fury
of the storm. 1 had finished my work and
was sitting half asleep near the stove,
which was filed with coal and red as a
cherry, when sensation of some i'm
pending danger took possession Of me.
Trying to shake it off, walked to my
desk, threw open the key and asked
the operator on the ''night trick" at
! Hudson how No. was.
s'On time" clicked the instrument in
reply, and l stirred the fire, turned the
blaze of my lamp higher and sat dowr
again.
For Is or 90 minutes sat listening to
the monotonous click SO musical to the
operators ear, when I became conscious
some one was looking through the win
dow, and thought of the express pack
age flashed through my mind. At the
same instant crashing of glass was fol-
lowed by gruff voice saying:
"Move and you are adead man"
I did not stir, but l realized that l was
looking straight into a six shooter.
While wss wondering how could save
the money the robber broke out the rest
of the window pane and crawled i'll 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 ct my head. CHANGING
around, he spied my pistol and coolly put
it in his pocket. AS he rose he said:
swell, now am ready for business.
/ will just trouble you for that little
| package with the red seals that is in your
safe"
was desperate enough to say any
thing and broke into loud, harsh laugh
as he finished.
''Was ever anything more lucky?"
cried, and my voice sounded like croak.
"Why, my friend, have been waiting
for chance to rob the express company
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 O moment with a
skeptical sneer.
'.Bosh! Don't talk stuff Whatever
you do beAuick about it and look 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. 1t did
not seem likely that opportunity would
favor me, but as I 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.
I sprang upon him with the strength
of madman, and so unexpected was th'
movement that we both went sprawline
on the floor, the revolver discharging it
self harmlessly as we fell. The robbel
soon struggled to his feet, and lifting
me completely from the floor forced mi
through the ticket window.
But l had wrestled often while at col
lege, and as crashed through the glas
l whirled him around, throwing my lef
foot back of his in such way that th'
next instant found him on his head in ;
corner. Wild with excitement, l pinned
him to the floor, pulling my old ''bull
dog from his pocket and changing tn
situation by placing the muzzle agains
his temple.
"Lie still, my FRIEND" painted, "or
will be worse for your
At that very moment l heard the ia
miliar whistle of No. 4, which was ap
preaching the station, but would no
stop unless signaled. l was master o
the situation now. l could stretch on
my left hand and touch the signal board
and with loud cry of triumph tina
sounded strange and savage in my ow'
ears turned it. / heard the airbrake
and escaping steam, and then the trai
came to full stop. Directly afterwar
the office door opened, and the conduct
or came swinging his lantern and ez
, pecting his train orders.
suppose he understood the tablea
| before him, but that was all knew fc
some time
When I became conscious of what Wa
. going on around me, they had my rol
+ Der bound hand and foot, and an cage
crowd stood round my chair, praisin
my bravery and congratulating me @