Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28

ing company's office 1t was found ernpty.
You can bet the wires hummed for a few
hours, but nothing could be found of the
money, and great sensation ensued. The
agent at Philadelphia swore he had placed
the money IN the sealed safe, but he was
arrested bailed out, and the detectives
watched him day and night like a hawk
The man was sensitive and suffered ter
ribly. His trial came on, and, think, he
was given year in jail.
Why He Was Suspected.
Meanwhile, the company's detectives
were not idle. Evey man that had any
thing to do with that safe was Swallowed.
out for months nothing was developed.
Huber was the last man suspected, and he
was watched only on account of the order
given to keep tab on everybody.
could give you thousand guesses,
ard you would never guess what threw
suspicion on Huber. 1t was simply
change of habit. He discarded overalls
and went about his work in his regular
office clothes. This was the first but all
important clue. Other little extravaean-
ces developed, and one day Huber was ar
rested and search of his home made.
Back OF the mantelpiece, concealed in crew.
Ices, was discovered the money, all but
about fifteen hundred dollars. 1t was a
great day for the detectives, and how the
old man that heads our company did
chuckle at the big find.
when taken to Jail, and, later con-
fronted with the proofs of his guilt, Huber
broke down and made a full confession.
He said that on the fateful night the two
safes arrived as usual, but instead of the
one safe being empty, as supposed, 1t con-
tanned the money for the miners He was
so thoroughly booked I'D in the express
business that he knew at once that some
terrible mistake had been made, and that
the agent at Philadelphia would be held
accountable for its loss
He was weak, and couldn't stand the
temptation, expecting to secret the money,
ana IN after years use ii after the robbery
had been forgotten. The man in jail was
at once released and sued the company for
damages, but think a satisfactory settle
ment was arrived at. But that mistake
was terrible thing for him, as 1t took
about twenty years off his life Huber
given only a short sentence as nearly all
the money was recovered but his life was
also WRECKED, and the families of both men
suffered. And all on account of one mans
carelessless.
An Exciting HOld-Up.
do you know that 1 came mighty near
being in that hold-up a year or so ago
down below Alexandria. 1 traded runs
with the messenger that had to face that
music and I never made a trade 1 was
better pleased with in ny life. had
passed through one hold-up out west, and
once was enough for me. as 1 not
longing for that kind of glory.
Il think it was in 1885, but the events
are vivid in my mind and I'll never forget
them The manager of our division re-
ceived a tip that a hold-up was being
known to be in certain locality on my
run. As usual in such cases, every mes
senger was accompanied by two guards,
and We were armed to the teeth. But
with the barrels sawed off short and load
ed with buckshot. An ordinary shot gun
at ten PAGES will scatter the load say
about a foot in circumference, but these
guns threw the shot like hail and was
sure to hit something within radius Of
three yards.
For two weeks the guards made their
trips without anything turning up to
startle US, and We began to think the tip
was of the fake order. Our manager was
a shrewd one and thought otherwise and
ordered the guards continued. He argued
that the gang had probably been made
aware of the precautions taken and were
lying low, so 20 speak, waiting for the
guards to be taken off.
las luck would have ii my run took me
out on Monday night, about two weeks
after the first alarm, and with me went
about $2O,oO0, and 1 warned tie guards to
be on the lookout for trouble. The coun-
try We We're running through was thor
cughly western, mountains for n stretch,
then woods, then plains and So on. We
had no pickup water tank on that di-
vision and had to stop for water. OF
course. the water tank was in the widest
section OF wild country and the gang
OF robbers knew we had TO stop there. AS
the train slowed up We We're taking things
easy in the car, everybody smoking pipes
and arguing over politics, but we had the
guns ready and barricade built of the
goods in the car, We had done every run
since the first warning had been given u.s.
Then There was n FusflInde.
'All at once pistol shot was heard and
We were our feet in a fraction of a
period, and then came shots and yeIls and
a great uproar up near the engine, and
then pounding on the car door and hoarse
yells TO open.
"On the instant of the first shot 1 had
blown out the lights. and all made break
for the barricade A second demand was
made accompanied by the threat that I'M
less the car was opened dynamite would
be used and all blown to hadeS. Finally,
one of the guards said we could not afford
TO trife with that gang, and told ME TO
open the door and then get back bel ind the
barricade. / crawled over to the do or, pull
ed it back, and with a leap Joined my COM
panionS.
"The next instant two of the robbers
crawled into the car, and seeing the lights
were out called with great oaths for
torch. One was brought, and with it came
a half dozen more of the highwaymen.
When the light fiared up our position was
disclosed TO the robbers, but they thought
lc.
With terrible yelis they commenced firing
and then we joined in. With two pulls at
the triggers our shotguns were emptied
and then our pistols began to bark. The
din and confusion was simply awful.
Hardly a minute was consumed in the
battle. The robbers on the outside had de-
camped when they heard the terrible racket
in the car. We waited a minute for signs
of renewal of the fight and then hasten
ed to light the lamps. And what a sight!
1t seemed to me il everything was COW
cred with blood. Four of the robbers had
been killed outright and two so badly in
jured that ii was only a question of few
minutes when they, too. would join their
Maker.
when the passengers came running up
to the car they dropped back in horror at
the sight, and couldn't blame them, as /
was sick myself At the next station we
left the bodies and cleaned up the car. /
shall never forget that encounter and don't
want to run the same chances again."