The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-01
MOVING KLONDIKE GOLD
TWO MILLION DOLLARS HAS
BEEN CARRIED EAST

Their Guards, Owing to a Report
That a Band of Robbers In Mon
tnna Is Looking for Trouble
Good Chance to Find 1t.
Klondike gold to the value Of $780,
600 has passed through st. Paul dur
ing the last two weeks, and more Is
on the way. 1t is shipped in bullion
from Seattle to Philadelphia and comes
to this city by express. The shipments
thus far have been pretty evenly di-
Vided between the Northern Pacific and
the Great Northern, and extra precau-
tons have been taken to prevent hold
ups.
Every express car, on both lines, con-
tanning the gold is guarded by two
special messengers, who are armed
with shotguns and revolvers. All the
trainmen are equipped with revolvers,
and the men stand guard over the
treasure day and night. The gold is
locked in a special safe, the combina-
ton Of which is not known to the men
guarding it. and whenever the mes
sengers are changed along the route
the combination is changed.
The companies fear of train robbers
is founded on a report that there is d
band of men in Montana who are try
ing to capture a train with Klondike
treasure. Both express companies were
warned recently that the band was
making for the Northern Pacific road
but later word was received that the
men had changed their route and were
heading for the Great Northern. Both
companies have since redOubled their
vigilance, and any band of robbers that
attempts to hold up either road will
have warm time.
The Great Northern Express COM
pany has a device which is thought to
be an effective guard against surprise
by robbers or any one else at night
1t is a brilliant flash light, which will
reveal the presence Of any one within
a safe distance Of the car. It is OPP
Grated from the interior of the car,
and no one who fails within its focus
can stand the glare. 1t is a most daz-
Zling light and blinds a person against
whom it is directed. Any band of men
of thieving intentions who should make
mistake and try to rob a car fitted
with this device would fall an easy
victim to the craftsmanship of the
train crew.
The companies are making quite q
neat little sum from the transportation
of gold. The tariff for that commodity
is higher than for ordinary goods, and
the owners are wiling to pay a reason
able express bill. The companies as
sumo all risk for the safe transporta-
ton of the yellow metal, and if any
was lost or stolen they would be oblig-
ed to make good the deficit. It stands
them in stead to take extraordinary
precautions in shipping the gold
There has lately been a dispute be-
tween the Eastern mine owners and
the express companies as to rates for
money from Chicago to Montana
points. Mine owners get the cash to
pay the miners in Chicago rather than
in st. Paul or Minneapolis, because
they claim they can get cleaner and
crisper bills there than here. The ship
pers object to paying more than rs
cents per 81 900, but the companies have
told them they will not carry money
such distance with it's attendant
risks for that rate. Up to the present
time the companies have held the best
of the argument-at least they have
received their rates.