The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-22
FIGHTING A ROBBER.
WAS IT BRAVERY OR WAS TIA CASE
OF FOOLHARDINEss!

"a Aeiegraphcr's story OF Ono
Winter Nights Experience.
When Tread 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 We're belated and so 1nfor-
tunate rs 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 We're late, and had found
no time to leave my office and take an ex-
press package of 50 900 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. L
mad an orier 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 Il lonely night The wires
hummed and sobbed i'll the wind as
though they could not withstand the fury
of the storm. had finishedmy work and
was sitting half asleep near the stove,
which was filled with coal and red as n
cherry, when a sensation Of some i'm
pending danger took possession Of me.
Trying to shake it off, walked to nv
desk, threw open the key and asked
the operator on the ''night trick" Mt
Hudson how No 4 was.
''On time" clicked the instrument in
reply, and 1 stirred the fire, turned the
blaze of my lamp higher and sat down
again.
For 10 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 Il crashing of glass was fol-
lowed by Il gruff voice saying:
'Move and you are dead man.'
did not stir, but realized that was
looking straight into six shooter.
While was wondering how could save
the money the robbcr 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 mo to rise, the ruf1ian 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 spicd my pistol and coolly put
1T i'll his pocket. AS he 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"
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 Il croalk.
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 moment with a
skeptcal sheer.
"Bosh Don't talk stuff! Whatever
you do be quick about it and look Il 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 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-
sprang upon him with the strength
of mailman, and so unexpected was the
movement that we both went sprawline
on the floor, the revolver discharging it.
self harnlessly as 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 coll
lege, and as 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 IL
corner. Wild with excitement, 1 pinned
him to the floor, pulling my old bull
dog from his pocket and changing the
situation by placing tho muzzle against
his temple.
"Lie still, my friend" painted, cor it
will be worse for you"
At that very moment 1 heard the ia
miliar whistle of No. 4, which was ap-
preaching the station, but would not
stop unless signaled. was master Of
the situation now. 1 could stretch out
my left hand and touch the signal board,
and With q loud cry of trinnnnl. thnt