The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-12-14

matter was suspicious ana rnat lnero
might be danger ahead.
Various plans OF circumventing
the robber or robbers were discussed
that of sending message by a
roundabout circuit to Winslow,
whittier the mail train was going,
and getting it to return to Jones
Siding with some armed men, and
holding the pay car, So that they
both should arrive at the same time.
But that required too much delay.
1t was again suggested that the
paymaster 60 no farther before
daylight, but that would only allow
the rascals to escape and to plan
some more diabolical scheme of
robbery. Besides. the fate of the
two faithful operators at Jones
hung in the balance They might
be bound and gagged, and we should
hasten to relieve them, or they
might be murdered, and we should
strive to entrap their murderers.
We all were convinced that there
was a gang Of robbers. No one man
would attempt to hold up the pay
masters car. It was finally decided
to go ahead with the car, approach
the Siding very cautiously and show
fight if molested. was asked to
go, as had a revolver and had al
ready prominent part in the affair.
Hadn't you better leave your
money here" 1 said to Mr.. Chester,
$50 that if we should be beaten they
will fail to get their booty9"
"Oh, no. Mr.. Chester promptly
decided. "If it should be lost here,
that would put you in a pretty bad
hole And, then, we are acting only
on suspicion. rather slimly founded.
Suppose it should prove a false
alarm and l had to return for the
money. My delay would be SO great
that the true story would be sure to
come out, and none of US would
hear the last of it. No, we can go
ahead, and if we find it too hot for
US we can retreat rapidly down the
track
Go ahead it was, then. l was
ready. l wired to the main office:
''An attack on paymaster's car fear
ed at Jones Siding. Will close Office
and go with Mr.. Chester. Leave
1:20"
then established connection and
called Jones, wiring these words:
'Siight delay to engine of paymas-
ter's car. o. K. now. Leave 1:20;
due Siding about lao
80. K" came back promptly.
jumped aboard the engine end of
the combination car, and we started
at good speed. The lights were soon
put out in the body of the car.
When about two miles from the sig
nal tower, we slowed down to about
six miles an hour. We soon saw the
red signal at the tower, but white
light at the switch half a mile be-
low
Look ont for the switch" said
to the engineer.
We came to stand at the switch,
and the fireman dismounted. But,
to our surprise, everything was
straight. We advanced cautiously,
when the red signal was suddenly
changed to white
BLOW your whistle, said to the
engineer, land make momentary
squirt, as if to run past.
He did so, when the signal was
again changed to red. The engineer
reduced speed to walking gait.
We crept up to the tower without
meeting any obstruction and came
to halt directly in front of it.
Every man remain on the car at
the peril of his lifel' came q star
tling shout from the dark doorway
of the lower story of the tower,
land throw out all the money, or
I'll blow you, car and all, to pieces.
There are dynamite cartridges on
che track for 100 yards before, be-
hind and under you, and can set
them all off with touch Of my fin
ger"
There was only one voice heard.
and no form visible. How many
there were in the tower none Of US
knew.
"Stick to your posts, whispered
to the engineer and fireman, land l
will get down on this side and see
what I can do. !"
The side meant was farthest
from the tower. Quite deep ditch
ran along the track here, and just
ahead little bridge spanned small
stream.
As spokeI stepped off the engine
behind the fireman and quickly
made my way under the bridge to
the tower side Of the track. then
cautiously ascended the rising
ground, the snow acting as car
pet, and in little more than a min
ute was peering through window
in the tower directly opposite the
door.
I COIL, xl,o for,nn of 4,ro, ,,,o1, dim