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


the robber or robbers were discussed
that of sending u message by
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. SD that they
both should arrive ut the same time.
But that required too much delay
1t was again suggested that tho
paymaster go 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 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 70
go. as l had a revolver and had al
ready prominent part in the affair
Hadn't you better leave your
J money here, said to Mr.. Chester,
$50 that if we should be beaten they
will fail to get their booty4"
"Oh, no" Mr.. Chester promptly
decided. IF it should be lost here,
that would put. you in pretty bad
hole. And. then. we are acting only
on suspicion, rather slimly founded.
Suppose it should prove false
alarm and 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 wo can retreat rapidly down the
/ track.
Go ahead it was, then | was
ready. wired TO the main office:
IAN attack on paymaster's car fear
ed at Jones Siding. Will close office
and go with Mr. Chester. Leave
1:2O"
l then established connection and
called Jones, wiring these words:
Slight delay to engine of paymas-
ter's car. o. X. now. Leave 1:2O;
due Siding about 1:4O.''
20. K" camu I>ack promptly.
jumped aboard the engine end Of
the combination car. and we started
at good speed. Tho 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 q mile be-
| low.
Look ont for the switch, said
to the engineer.
We came to q 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 a momentary
squirt. as if to run past
He did 80, when the signal was
again changed to red. The engineer
reduced speed to q walking gait.
We crept up to the tower without
meeting any obstruction and camo
to halt directly in front Of it.
Every man remain ON the car at
the peril of his life" came q star
Ting 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
the 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 towcr none Of US
knew.
''Stick to your posts. .''E whispered
j TO the engineer and fireman, land I
will get down on this side and see
what can do"
The side I meant was farthest
from the tower. Quite deep ditch
ran along the track here, and just
ahead little bridge spanned q email
stream.
Az I spoke1 stepped of eengins
hehind 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 a car
pet. and in little more than min.
ute was peering through window
in the tower directly opposite the
| door.
| saw the forms of two men dim
ly outlined against the snow, one in
a sitting position, with his right
hand extended as if grasping a han
! die