The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-22
FIGHTING A ROBBER.
WAS IT BRAVERY OR WAS IT A CASE
OF FooLHARolNEss,

For the Poss ession of y . $1,000 Money
Package-A Teiegrapher's story of One
winter Nights Experience.
When l 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 tray
elers who were belated and SO unfor-
tunate rs to meet him.
was employed by the Northern Pa
citc railway as telegraph operator. 1t
WA 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 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 s. 900 TO the bank for
safe keeping. The station was crowded
and our safe small, so that | usually de-
posted the colnpany's money in the bank
hot liking to risk il 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 III % minutes of II.
II was a lonelv night. The wires
hnmmed And sofbed in the wind as
though they could not withstand the fury
of the storm. | had finished my work and
was sitting hall asleep near the stove,
which was filed with coal and red as a
cherry, when a sensation of some inn
pending danger took possession of me.
Trying to shake it off, l walked to my
desk, threw open the key and asked
the operator on the might 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 90 minute | sat listening to
the monotonous click SO musical to the
operators ear. when | 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 gruff voice saying:
Move and you are a dead man.
~ vi ~ L lildtl 0S
looking straight into IA six shooter. f..
While I was wondering how l could save
the money the robber broke out the res:
of the window pane and crawled in over
my desk.
Oh. for some way to reach my trusty
t%'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 he rose he said:
We'll, 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 10 say any,
thing and broke into a loud. harshlau
as he finished.
Was ever anything more lucky" |
cried, and my voice sounded like a croak.
why. my friend, | have been waiting
for a chance to rob the express company
for a month. and if you are bound to
take the package we will divide the on
tents and skip together"
He looked at me q 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 J
the safe door open, making up my mind
10 throw myself upon him if he moved
his revolver away for an instant. 1t did
not seem likely that opportunity would
favor me, hut as l 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 harmlessly as we fell. The robber
struggled to his feet, and lifting
completely from the floor forced me
through the ticket window.
But I had wrestled often while at col
lege, and as l 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 a
Wild with excitement, l pinned
him to the floor, pulling my old ''bull- ,
dog" from his pocket and changing The I
by placing the nrizzle against (
bis temple. {
Lie still, my frieha," | painted. or it +
will be- worse for Won" {
At that very moment | heard the IA {
milisr whistle of Np. i. which WIS ar /
preaching the station, lint wolil rot /
stop unless signaled. Vas master OF !
the situation now. | couia stretch oaI /
my left hand and touch the signal board. /
and with a loud cry of triumph that /
sounded strange and savage in my oWn !
ears l turned it. heard the airbranes /