West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-01-05
CHAPTER I.
TTIE PARTY OK SPECIAL no. ais.

TIE iAltif ON SiENlAI NJ Glo.
Any one who hopes TO find in what is
hcre written work of literature Ind
bettar lay II aside unread. At Yalo
should have got the sack in rhetoric and
English composition, let alone other
studies, had il not been for the fGct
that played half back ON the team and
50 the professors marked me away up
above where l ought 10 have ranked.
That was 12 years ago, but my life since
1 received my parchment has hardly
been Of kind to improve me in either
style or grammar 1t is true that one
woman tells me write well and my
directors never find fault with my com
positions, but know that she likes my
letters because, whatever else they may
say TO her, they always say in some
form, II love you, while my board
approves my annual reports because thus
fur have been able TO end each with
IL recommend the declaration Of a divi-
dend of por cent from the earnings
of the current year. 1 should therefore
prefer TO reserve my writings for such
friendly critics If il did not seem neces-
sary TO make public plain statement
concerning an affair over which there
heard in the last five years not less than
20 renderings of what is commonly
called "the great X. and A. train rob
berry" some 30 twisted and distorted
that but for the intermediate versions l
should never have recognized them as
attempts 10 narrate the series Of events
in which / played IA somewhat prolni-
nent part
have read or been told that, unas-
sisted, the pseudo hero captured a dozen
desperadoes; that he was one of the road
agents himself; that he vas saved from
lynching only by the timely arrival of
cavalry; that the action Of the United
States government I'm roscuing him from
the civil authorities was most high
handed interference with state rights;
that he received his reward from n CRATE
ful railroad by being promoted; that
lovely woman ne recompcnse for his viii
lainy-but, bother; it's my business TO
/ tell what really occurred and not what
the world chooses 10 invent And if any
man thinks hc would have done other
wise in my position I can only say that
he is IA better OF worse man than Dick
Gordon.
shaped my end Owing To my skill in
, the game, | took IA post graduate at the
Sheffield Scientific school, that the team
might have my services for an extra two
years. That led TO my knowing little
about mechanical engineering, and when
l LETT the quad for good / went into
the Alton railroad shops. IL wasn't long
before was foreman of n section; next
1 became a division superintendent, and
after had stuck 10 that for q time ]
was appointed superintendent of the
Kansas and Arizona railroad, limo cx-
tending from Trinidad in Kansas 20 The
Needles in Arizona, tapping the Mis-.
souri, Western system at the first place
and the Great Southern at the other
With both lines we had important traffic
agreements, as well as the closest rela-
tions which sometimes were little
difiicult, az the two roads were anything
but friendly, And We had directors of
each OH tho X. and A. board, In which
they fought like cats. Indeed IL could
only be a question OF time when one
would oust tslo other and then absorb
my road My headquarters were at AL
buquerque, in New Mexico, and il was
there, ia October, 1890, that received
the communication which was the be-
ginning Of all that followed
This initial factor WINS a letter from
the president Of the Missouri Western.
telling me that their first vice president
MIR. Cullen (who was also director Of
my road), was coming out TO attend the
annual election Of the K and A., which
under our charter had TO be held In Ash
Forks, A. T. A second paragraph told
me that Mr.. Cullen's family accompa-
MED him, and that they all wished to
visit tho Grand canyon of the Colorado
on their way. Finally the president
wrote that the party Travelled in his own
private car and asked me to make my
self generally useful TO them. Having
become quito hardened 20 Just such de-
mauds, at the proper date / ordered my
suporintendeut's car ON to No. 2, ard
the next morning il was dropped of at
Trinidad
The moment no arrived I climbed
into tho Presidents special, that was
the last car ON the train, and introduced
myself - Mr. Cullcn, whom, though AN
official n my road. had never met Ho
seemed surprised at my presence, but
greeted mo very pleasantly ~ soon as
explained chat the Missouri Western
Office had asked me 20 do what / could
for him and that / was there for that
purpose Eis party were about TO sit
down 70 breakfast. and he asked me to
join thom. SOwe passed into the dining
room At the forward end of the car.
where I was introduced TO my son,
Lord Rallies" and Captain Ack.
land" The son was n junior copy Of
his father, tall and fine looking; but. ia
place of the frank aud easy manner of
his Sire he was 50 very English that
most people wonld have sworn falsely
~ 70 his native land Lord Rallies was
a little, we'll built chap. not half 50
English as Albert Cullen. quiclg IN man
ner and thought, being IN this the op-
posite Of his brcibcr. Captain Acsland.
who was heavy enough to rock ballast a
roadbod. Both brothers gave mo the
impression ~ bciug gentlemen. aud