The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
GULCH BILLSLAST HOLD-UP.
MET An ENGINEER NOT SCARED By
TRAIN ROBBERS.

A jet of scaIding Water Put the Robber
in tho Locomotive Out of Business ana
GuIch bill, who Was Uncoupiing
Car, Came to Death Under the Wheels
"Gulcb Bill the once notorious train robber had
been raising Cain with the night express OF the
Air Line, before took the run some years ago"
remarked Steve Williams, a retired western engi-
neer, but somehow after I was put on the train
his hodups ceased He had made several sue
cessful attempts at the game though and had suo-
ceeded in taking the nerve out Of most OF the engi
neers before he stopped operations. None OF them
wanted the train after Jake Leach got scared out
but was young and looking for excitement so
l said Id try my hand on her. After Bits last
appearance the company gave the crew OF the train
strict orders TO go armed and be on the alert always
which had a sort OF a lock the barn-after-tho-
horse is stolen twang to me. But as everything
went along swimmingly and no train robbers
appeared for month or so we began to fall back
into the old rut of things and leave our ordinance
departments home.
The night express was generally made UP OF
IL or IS blind or sealed. baggage and express
cars with a couple OF coaches on the rear for the
accommodation OF the crew and the few passengers
the train carried All the crew had TO do in times
OF peace was to sleep as the train made only
couple of stops on the division for water Tho
way Gulch Bill and his two pals usually operated
was to secrete themselves in some way on the head
end OF the train at ono Of the water plugs and at
an out of the way place they'd surprise tho engi-
neer and fireman, cut off the head car, which
usually was the through San Francisco car and
mako the engineer haul it down to some obscure
spot where they would crack ii open and take out
what express packages they thought valuable
and make the engineer get the car back to tho
train as best he could.
after had been on the run about six months
and no robbers appeared. the older men on tho
road began to get sorry being chicken hearted
and made kicks for the train. as 1t was q snap
few hours on the road and big money. But tho
Superintendent said that as had taken tho train
In troublesome times when all the rest afraid
night as we were leaving St Loo Sam McCrhck-
at feels kinder like train robbers to mo to-
night Shoq piiI wonder I II we'd haze visit
must have blown in about all the swag he got
-'Ah gowan j says he s far out Of this country
by this time ! heard the other day that he'd
you lest mark my words says Sam. he's
lest layin' low to throw us off the scent He'll
SANS guess didn't como true that night but
Q couple Of nights later felt a Gravity feeling
away from Stony Hollow water plug, and turned
70 sec three tough looking customers drop over
the coal boards In Inc 'front.' end OF the tank and
cover Sam and me quicker'n q wink.
whoa, there, Leach, or I'll make you look
like the top Of your mothers pepper box, said
not unpleasant voice 9u that knew right away
Don't happen to be Leach said. sparring
for time with him
MOR es no difference . You Just choke of that
Of this train. Halt. say,
There was nothing TO do but halt so brought
her TO gradually and while doing so Bill continued
"'Now Hank he said to one Of his pals, you
Just cover this gent here and his pard, so they
don't run away with us, and Gin and III go cut
business, or your family wifi be pricing funeral
layopts tomorrow When you get the word to
Swamp and stop there. Hank il he don't obey
orders or goes throwing any hot milk into you
you Just Eet your thirteen Founders into action
IAN tho while he had been shooting of his
mouth had been forming plan Of battle In
modern water glass TO let the engineer know how
much water he carried in his boiler Instead
they were. equipped with water gauges These
had four little stopcocks in vertical limo the
back OF the boiler. When you wanted 10 see how
much water you had in the boiler you Just turned
one OF those stopoocks When there was enough
water in tho boiler tho two lower stopcocks would
throw hot water and the two upper ones steam.
Il figured out OF tho tail OF my eye that Bits
pardneT, Hank, stood Just 80 that stream OF
between tho eyes / could get my hand on the
stopcock without Hanks seeing me as leaned
up against tho boiler So, when thought had
given Bill about time enough to reach the end Of
the first express car turned tho lower stopcock
on full tilt and Hank caught IL between the eyes.
Az the same time pulled tho throttle wide open
The hot water striking Hank so suddenly In
the face keeled him right over out Of range Of tho
ist Of hot water and with Jump landed on TOP