The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-16
CHAPTER /.

here written Work OF literature nan
better lay 1t aside unread. At Yale
should have got the sack in rhetoric and
English composition, let alone other
studies, had 1t not been for the fact
that played half back on the team and
go the professors marked me away up
above where ought to have ranked
That was IL years ago, but my life since
I received my parchment has hardly
been of kind to improve me in either
style or grammar. 1t is true that one
woman tells me write we'll and my
directors never find fault with NV cnrn-
Positions but ! know that she likes my
letters because, whatever else they may
say to her, they always say in some
form, II love you" while my board
approves my annual reports because thus
far have been able to end each with
II recommend the declaration Of divi-
dend Of - per cent from the earnings
of the current year." / should therefore
prefer to reserve my writings for such
friendly critics if it did not seem neces-
sary to make public n plain statement
concerning an affair over which there
appears to be much confusion. have
heard in the last five years not less than
40 renderings Of what is commonly
called "the great K. and A. train rob
berry," some so twisted and distorted
that but for the intermediate versions I
should never have recognized them as
attempts to narrate the series Of events
in which I played o somewhat promi-
nent part.
have read or been told that, unas-
sisted, the pseudo hero captured dozen
desperadoes; that he was one Of the road
agents himself; that he was saved from
lynching only by the timely arrival Of
cavalry; that the action Of the United
States government in rescuing him from
the civil authorities was a most high
handed interference with state rights;
that he received his reward from CRATE
full railroad by being promoted; that a
lovely woman as recompense for his vii
lainy-but, bother; it's my business to
tell what really occurred and not what
the world chooses to invent. And if any
man thinks he would have done other
wise in my position I can only say that
he is better or worse man than Dick
Gordon.
Primarily, it was football which
shaped my end. Owing to my skill in
the game, took a postgraduate at the
Sheffield Scientific school, that the team
might have my services for an extra two
years. That led to my knowing a little
about mechanical engineering and when
left the quad" for good I went into
the Alton railroad shops. Itwasn't long
before l was foreman Of section; next
I became division superintendent, and
after had stuck to that for time I
was appointed superintendent Of the
Kansas and Arizona railroad, line ex-
tending from Trinidad in Kansas to The
Needles in Arizona, tapping the Mis-
souri, Western system at the first place
and tho Great Southern at the other.
With both lines we had important traffic
agreements, as we'll as the closest rela-
tions, which sometimes were q little
difficult, as the two roads were anything
but friendly. And we had directors OF
each OH the K and A. board, in which
they fought like cats Indeed it could
only be question Of time when one
would GUST the other and then absorb
my road. My headquarters were at AL
buquerque, in New Mexico, and it was
there, in October, 1890, that I received
the communication which was the be-
ginning of all that followed.
This initial factor was letter from
the president of the Missouri Western,
telling me that their first vice president,
Mr.. Cullen (who was also director Of
my road), was coming out to attend the
annual election of the X. and A., which
under our charter had to be held in Ash
Forks, A. T. A second paragraph told
me that Mr.. Cullen's family accompa-
MED him, and that they all wished to
visit the Grand canyon Of the Colorado
on their way. Finally the president
wrote that the party travelled in his own
private car and asked me to make my
self generally useful to them. Having
become quito hardened to just such de-
mands at the proper date I ordered my
superintendent car on to No. 2, and
the next morning it was dropped off at
Trinidad.
The moment No. 8 arrived I climbed
into the Presidents special, that was
the last car on the train, and introduced
myself to Mr.. Cullen, whom, though an
official Of my road, had never met. He
seemed surprised at my presence, but
greeted me very pleasantly as soon as I
explained that the Missouri Western
office had asked me to do what could
for him and that was there for that
purpose. His party were about 20 sit
down to breakfast, and lie asked me to
join them. So we passed into the dining
room at the forward end Of the car,
where was introduced to "My son, "
Lord Rallies" and Captain Ack-
land" The son was junior copy Of
his father, tall and fine looking; but, in
place of the frank and easy manner of
his sire, he was SO very English that
most people would have sworn falsely
as to his native land. Lord Rallies was
a little, we'll built chap, not half SO
English as Albert Cullen, quick in man.
ner and thought, being in this the op-
posite of his brother, Captain Ackland,
who was heavy enough to rock ballast a
roadbed. Both brothers gave me the
impression Of being gentlemen, and
both were decidedly good looking.
After the introductions Mr.. Cullen
said we would not wait, and his remark
called my attention to the fact that
there was ono more place at the table
than there were people assembled. ]
had barely noted this when my host
said, Here's the truant," and, turning,
faced lady who had just entered.
Mr.. Cullen said, "Madge, let me intro
duce Mr.. Gordon to you" Ny bow was
made to a girl Of about 20, with light
brown hair, the bluest Of eyes, fresh
skin and fine figure, dressed 80 nattily
as to be to me, after my four years OF
western life, sight for tired eyes. She
greeted me pleasantly, made a neat lit.
tie apology for having kept us waiting,
and then we all sat down.
It was a very jolly breakfast table,