The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-11-09
FIGHTING A ROBBER.
WAS IT BRAVERY on WAS IT A CASE
OF FooLHARDiNEsSf

A Struggle with the Famous Ed Dalton
For the Possession OF u $1,000 Money
P~ackage-A Photographers Story OF One
Winter Nights Experience.
When | read of adventures, there comes
to my mind my encounter with a no
torious outlaw of the lame of Ed Dali
ton. For years he had robbed mail
coaches and waylaid aud murdered tray
elers who were belated and so unfor-
tnnate as to meet him.
/ was employed by the Northern Pa
cifc railway rs telegraph operator. It
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 a 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 $1,000 to the bank for
safe keeping. The station was crowded
and our safe small, so that / usually de-
posted the company money in the bank
not liking to risk it in the office. /
had an order from the dispatcher not to
60 to bed till after No. 4 had passed.
This was the western bound limited,
due at, Cameron at 10 minutes Of IL.
1t was a lonely night. The wires
hummed and sobbed in the wind as
though they could not Withstand the fury
- xha s+o.,c LaJ ErsahaI ,cxy uro~fr ord
was sitting half asleep near the stove,
which was filled with coal and red as a
cherry, when a sensation Of some inn
pending danger took possession of me.
Crying to shake it off, / walked to my
desk, threw open the key and asked
the operator on the might trick" at
Hudson how No. A was.
son time," clicked the instrument in
reply, and / 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 mi 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 gruf voice saying:
Move and you are adead mants
/ did not stir, but / realized that / was
looking straight into a six shooter
| While I was wondering how could save
/ the money the robber broke out the rest
Of the window pane and crawled in oyer
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 warn
his chilled members before ~'cleanins
OUT the office. all the while keeping thu
revolver pointed at my head. CHANGING
around, he spied my pistol and coolly pur
it in his pocket. As he rose he said:
"Well, now | am ready for business
| will just trouble you for that littl,
package with the red seals that ism you
safe"
was desperate enough to say any
thing and broke into a loud, harsh laugl
as he finished.
Twas ever anything more lucky?'
cried, and my voice sounded like a croak
why. my friend, | have been waitin
for a chance to rob the express compan,
for a month, and if you are bound I
take the package we will divide the cor
tents and skip together"
He looked at me a moment with
skeptical sneer.
'Bosh! Don't talk stuff! Whateve
you do 7beauiek about it and look a littl
out that you play me no trick, or I'll fiji
ish YOU"
turned the combination and dre'
the safe door open, making up my min
to throw myself upon him if he move
his revolver away for an instant. 1t di
not seem likely that opportunity woul
favor me, but as / took the money froi
the safe and handed it to him b lowere
his weapon.
The critical time had come! If Ishoul
fail TO overpower the fellow, it meal
death fol me.
I sSfang upon him with the strengt
of a mailman, and so unexpected was I'll
!, movement that we both went sprawlir
on the floor, the revolver discharging !
self harmlessly as we fell. The robb'
, soon struggled to his feet, and liftir
me completely from the floor forced II
through the ticket window.
But | had wrestled often while at &C
iege, and as / crashed through the gla
! | whirled him around, throwing my lie
! foot back of his in such a way that Il
! next instant found him on his head in
corner. Wild with excitement, | pinn'
him to the floor, pulling my old "bu
dog" from his pocket and changing t
fsituation by placing the muzzle again
his temple.
Lille still, my friend,' ! painted, "or
: will be worse for you"
: AT that very moment ! heard the !
2 miliar whistle Of No. 4. which was Q
! preaching the station, but would q
. 1855 ~r~~Inrc a.rrralnd II vyac xnaofar