Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-06
GEORGE ". DRAKE,

shoot from the car windows, pefforate the
roofs Of the coaches and indulge in other
interesting pastimes.
Drake entered the service Of the COM
pany, and for many months went up on
one passenger train and came down on the
next. The first time that q drunken man
attempted to pull o pistol he found the
cold point OF brakes revolver against his
temple. That settled it. Thenoeforth there
was no trouble on the trains.
There is scarcely a county in Kentucky
or a state in the Union where Drake has
not made arrests. He has arrested despef-
ate inconsistencies, fugitive murderers, out
lawed cutthroats of all descriptions, and
broken up gangs of counterfeiters. He has
yet his first man to kill. The nearest he
came to this was in q close corner that he
once got into at Jellico, q little town which
divides itself with the Kentucky and Ten
nessee line. Drake was on the lookout for
a mountain desperate who was wanted for
murder and located him at Jellico and
arrested him while at supper. The prison
er was handcuffed and taken to the depot
to await the departure Of the train at 9
o'clock.
About IA of the prisoners mining
friends, heavily armed, went to the little
depot to interview Drake. Drake was in
the waiting room with his prisoner when
the crowd Of angry miners entered. They
halted near the door, and the spokesman,
a burly, shaggy bearded fellow, politely
informed Drake that they had made up
their minds to take their friend away from
him. II the prisoner was turned over
promptly and without resistance, the off,
Ger would be permitted to depart unin-
jured. But II the man was not surrendered
peacefully-why, the officer would have to
take the consequence. The miners didn't
know Drake. He was q stranger to them,
but his prisoner knew him
Drake told the gang that he had . war.
rant for the man, and he was an officer Of
tine law and would not surrender the pris.
oner. Drake moved into a corner, 50 as 10
nave all his assailants squarely in front Of
nim' determined to stand his ground.
Nearly every man in the crowd drew his
weapon and prepared for a muraerous a.
sault upon the detective. Drake. as Quick
as flash, drew q big Colt revolver. and
covering the prisoner, said: :
Hold ON Just q minute. Yon can sl,ool
| me II you want to, but at the drop of thu
nrst hammer I'll put q bullet into thi,
mans brain You can't shoot too ouicl
to keep me from doing this. II Won Kill
me, III kill him. II any Of you take a ster
in this direction, even, III shoot
The prisoner, trembling like q Leaf
gasped: Hell do it, boys Don't shootr
The crowd dispersed, and Dfake got On
the car with his prisoner. Drake IL abou
9 feet 1 inch tall, rawboned and strone
muscled- He has . brown mustache, dari
hair and gray eyes and is as quiet and .,
easy going In his manners as Methods
parson- There ID none Of the bfa9Radoci,
about him, and he arrests his despersdoe
with . complacent air. He has, in hi
moonshine raids, been in the saddle 70
four days and nights at . stretch In al
kinds Of weather and not knowing 1t wha
minute he might be shot from his hors
| with . winchester. This last job, the ar
rest Of the slayers Of the brave Byrd, vii
give Drake additional cause for extra car
In his future mountain trips.