The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-10-31
FIGHTING A R0BBER.
WAS 1T BRAVERY OR WAS 1T A CASE
OF FOOLHARDINESs?

A Struggle With the Famous Ed Dalton
For the Possession of $1,000 Money
Packsge-A Telegrapher's Story of One
Winter Nights Experience.
When read of adventures, there comes
to my mind my encounter with 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
cifc 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 had found
no time to leave my Office and take an ex-
press package of s., 900 to the bank for
safe keeping. The station. was crowded
and our safe small, so thai usually de-
posted the company s money in the bank
not 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 lonely night. The wires
hummed 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
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 might trick" at
Hudson how No. was.
"On time" clicked the instrument In
reply, and l stirred the fire, turned the
blaze Of my lamp higher and sat down
again.
For Is or 20 minutes sat listening to
the monotonous click so musical to the
operators ear, when 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 manp
did not stir, but / realized that was
looking straight into six shooter.
While I was wondering how 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 wishl
Ordering me to rise, the ruff1an 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
II in his pocket. As he rose he said:
"Wel, now am ready for business.
l 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 a loud, harsh laugh
as he finished.
''Was ever anything more luckyF'
cried, and my voice sounded like croak.
why. my friend, | have been waiting
for chance to rob the express company
for month, and If you are bound to
take the package we will divide the con-
tents and skip together"
He looked at me a moment with a
skeptical sneer.
"Boshi Don't talk stuff Whatever
you do be quick about 1t 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. It did
not seem likely that opportunity would
favor me, but as took the money from
the safe and handed 1t to him he lowered
his weapon.
The critical time had comet II should
fail to overpower the fellow, it meant
death for me.
sprang upon him with the strength
of mailman, and so unexpected was the
movement that we both went sprawling
on the floor, the revolver discharging It
self harmlessly IS we fell. The robber
soon struggled to his feet, and lifting
me completely from the floor forced me
through the ticket window.
But had wrestled often while at col
lege. and as I crashed through the glass
/ whirled him around, throwing my left
foot back Of his in such way that the
next instant found him on his head in a
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 il
will be worse for you"
At that very moment / heard the ia
miliax whistle Of No. A, which was ap-
preaching the station, but would not
stop unless signaled. l was master OF
| the situation now. | could stretch out
my left hand and touch the signal board,
and with a loud cry Of triumph that
sounded strange and savage In my own
ears turned 1t. heard the airbrakes
and escaping steam, and then the train
came to full stop. Directly afterward
the Office door opened, and the conduct
or came swinging his lantern and ex-
pecting his train orders.
I suppose he understood the tabieau
before him, but that was all knew fol
some time.
When became conscious Of what was
going on around me, they had my rob
Der bound hand and foot, and an eager
crowd stood round my chair, praisina
my bravery and congratulating me on
saving the large sum Of money and cap
turing the boldest robber west of Card
eron. the famous Ed Dalton.
Was 1t bravery Sometimes ! think
it was foolhardiness, but it paid me
well, for both railway and express com
panies rewarded me generously in money
and advance Of position. -Archie Eggle
son.
ON SHORT ALLOWANCE.