Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-02
FIGHTING A ROBBER.
WAS IT BRAVERY OR WAS IT A CASE
OF FOollARCISEsS,

Tor the Possession OF "a 5000 Money
PrcIasc--A Photographers Story oe OEs
Winter Nights Experience.
Whcn read oe adventures. there comes
to my mind my encounter with no.
toriors oUtlaw.of tho name of Ed Dali
ron. For years he had robbed mail
coaches AMI way,aid aad murdered trav-
clc:s who wc.o bcllt,d ard go un;or-
tunatc rs 10 meet him. Az
Twas employed blythe Northern Pa-
ciiic railway rs telegraph operator. 1t
was in the latte. part Of tho winter that
the most terrible storm bTo,.c upon that
section OF th- country that was cvor
known. Tho wind blew n strong gale
from tic northwest. and the air was fall
of snow.
AL t-.ri,ls were late. and 7 ilad fr.nd
no time toiravc M o!'ic, and take an e.
prc's package q. $500 ;o the bank FOR
ccfe h,rIing. Tho citation WIS crowded
and orr S,fc snail. 50 that r.,lal,y de-
posted TIE cclIpsny's MONEY in tic bank
rot lil:i:.. {, risk it in the Office,
hr.l an order froia the dispatcher not to
"a 20 bed III! after No. 4 lad passed.
This WIS ihc wcstc-l bonni limited.
due ut Cameron ut 10 mi.nit,s OF II.
II was u lonely night. TIC wires
hum:ncd and sobbed in the wind as
though they coald not Withstand The fury
ci thes.C-ir. HI ! fnishc,l my y.orl, and
was sitting half asleep ne:.r the stove.
which S:as ,illcl with coal and red rs
cherry. when n sensation OF Some i.r-
Trying IL shake it OF. walked TO my
desk. threw open tic key AID asked
the ofa-G.cr on the .Aisht trick" at
Hudson how Nc. ( w-s.
''on ,iuc." cl;ckol the instrument. in
reply. nll ) Gtirrcl the Ere. turned the
blazc g. iIy lamp higher AMI SAT down
again.
For l1-or - minutes sat listening 10
Che mcaoiCaO.:s clicl: so musical TO the
Operators cI-'. wEca iccamc conssioys
so.uc one vas looking through the win
dow. ard Enough: OF the express pacl;-
age l-sacI through :.y EIind. st the
same instant 4 cras.,ins, of glass was fol-
lowed ~ n gruff voice SAYING:
more a.li yen ar, dead man.
dill mo- stir. but realized tina. was
lOo.drI s.--.ight iato = six shooter.
Whilc was wondering how coaid save
til InaEcy The .o5jer broke oat the rest
Of SIC window pane and crawlel in o-er
nv dc-l:.
On, iJr aD:lc way to reach ny trusty
''baiiic;," which waJ lying IN fall sight
rrdc- the ticl:c. window. Useless wish!
C-.-c-ing me to rise. Tho r,iii..;.., calmly
lis chilled members before clearing
ont" tho Office. all the wl,i!c keeping the
revolver poi:ica at lily head. CHANGING
around. I've s.ied my pistol and coclly put
i IL h;srocl.et. As he rose be said:
well, row c:n ready for business. :,
! will j,.st trouble you for that little
package with the red seals TINT is in your
SAFE"
J was dcsptr-;c enough to aay any
thing and bru';e in.o "a load. liarsk1-s-i,
~ hc finished.
Wa cvsr anything more lacky:" l
cried, and ',Iy voicc auInled Ike : croal,.
l;y. ily friend. have been waiting
fOT : C..uacc 70 rob tho c=p-css comnauv
sor month. aa'i if You are bound to
,al.c t..c lE--......s,e we will civilc the con-
tc:.ts ana SKIP together"
lie loo';"1 At me n moment with a
s.-c3iic;:i ancer.
"3csi! Dome talk stu. Whatever
vou DO be quick ABOUT 1t aud loo, little
Oh; t.!at yea PLAY irc no trick, or I'll lin
ish yo;.."
Turned Ike combination and drew
tt satc doJr C,cn. In1kin:; UP my mind
to. H.,
hi revolver away for 81 instant. 1t did
20 rrr.l E.,cly that opgo-t unity wonld
favor lie, 1@t rs .oo.i tin money from
tie safe :::ll handel i. to him lie lowered
his weapon.
Tho critical titao Ind CONC. II siio-ld
fell To ovorpowcr the feilo--. it meant
death for Itc.
srrang up,n him with the strength
ci y mailman. and 50 uncx 7cctcd was the
movement t.i;:. ~c both went srravIing
on tic ..Ou.. the revolver lischar;,ing it,
self i;gr:2!cssly as We fell. The robtcr
soon s..igylcd - his feet. and littin',
r. completely from the flor forced lc
t!.-o-'.'i the ;ic..e. win low.
Eat hal v-ostle,i often while NJ co.,
-. :Ll Is c..s..s.,ld through TIC glass
Iwl.i.!.i l,i.s. around. throwing my left
foct h..': &c lis ia such way that the
;.c;s. i.i-.:.:.. fy;:.l'' hin on his l.s.sli.,
el.scr. VIA with cxc;.ei,.aa.. pinned
t. im 10 ;ac gSc-. pailin= Iay old bull
dog" frc:i his loc!:ct AL changing tins
situation !Jy placing The i;.u=zic AGAINST
hi ...iplc.
..-.ic ell. .ny friend" painted. cor ii
viii - wC-sc Tor yoa.'
=; ;...-t yo.y iao:lcnt heard the f.
mil.ar whistle or Nc. 4. which was AZ.
Iro2sfiEg the station. but would
stop ,.ilcss aiSnalei. l WIS master of
tn s,tca.icl now. ! could stretch out
ny lcit hand and touc!. :ac si:;n..l beard,
aal With loud cry cf triumph that
sounded strange AID savage in my own
ears tgl-nal it. ! heard The a:rin-scs
aad c-ca NM: steam. and then tue train
came 10 = fall sop. Directly afterward