Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-24
"RepeIiing Train-RObbcrs.

TO the Editor of the Dispatch:
Under this heading in the North Ameri-
can Review for February Lieutenant
knight, OF the Third United States Cav
airy. makes some suggestions. His main
point is thus presented: 1T may safely
be assumed that the point of attack is
the engine, and then the eNpresS-car.
Why, then, not separate them as much
as possible by putting the express-car
the last In the train; have alarm-beils in
each coach and sleeper. which can be
rung by the express messenger when
he is directed or requested at this I'M
usual time and place TO open the door OF
his car" In reply TO this, let me suggest
that, with the express-car in the rear
the robbers could secrete themselves on
the rear platform and at the chosen time
and place rise up and cover the mes
se;,per with their revolverS through the
glass In the door. The messenger would
have neither time nor chance to touch his
bell-button or cord. He and all the
money in his care would be entirely at
the mercy of the man or men behind the
reyolyers so ominously looking through
that glass in the rear door or the rear
car in the train With the safe r.fied
and the messenger gagged. the bandits
pull bcll-cord and quietly step down and
out as the train stops and while the
conductor and his crew tdnding the engi-
neer don't know are hurrying aft TO
see what the trouble Is. Lieutenant
knight further suggests:
In each coach and sleeper have In a
glass front case. similar to those now In
use for axe and saw, two repeating shot
guns. each magazine containing five buck
shot cartridges, thus giving from six to
twelve most effective weapons into the
hands o, the train crew and passengers.
This strikes me as being good idea.
but for the fact that a smart set or
robbers would certainly arrange TO Sc
cure these little arssnals before the train
crew could possibly pull themselves to-
eether and get 70 the guns in the cases.
As 10 tho passengers, each man VIII be
fourd looking out for himself and his
own pOckct-book, too. II need be. unin-
pcdcd by any consciousness OF obliga-
tor 70 aid In protecting the express
company from loss. Now. then, for
lltt.e plan Of my own for battling the
bandits: Let the cxpress-car stay where
| /. Is Immediately behind the tender: let
IL have no platform at either end. with
steps Ga sort Of little ladder or port-cullis)
secured on the inside, to be dropped on
the outside OF side-doors for ingress CT
egress; let all the doors be without glass.
the car being lighted through the roof or
from glass near the roof on the sides.
with no platform to stand upon. the
robbers would had II difficult TO cover
the engineer and frenaa with their pis-
tolls, as well az 10 operate against the
door II. however, the door should be
forced by batterlng or explosives" the
messenger could extingi.sh his lights
Snd have his enemy at his mercy. mas
much as he would know where to shoot
TO hit the robber. while the robber could
, not locate the messenger. OF course. in
addition to these precautions. every man
connected with the train-conductor. en-
gineer. fireman. brakeman. express mes
senger and news-boy-should h. armed
always II. II. LEE.
| Hampton. Va, February %. 1895.