Willmar tribune., 1900-10-31
EXPRESS MESSENGERS TALE.
Thought He Saw a Would-Be Robber
- Concealed in n Box In
-s:. .-~ His Car, -~t.,.... -

Thought He Saw Would-Be Robber
Concealed in n Box In
His Car. t-.... =.
''The murder of an express mesesn-
ger near Columbus, o., the other day
reminds me of a curious experience
of my own.' said a veteran employe
of one of the big companies, relates
the New Orleans Times-Democrat.
1T was a good many years ago and
had a messengers run at the time in
and out of Des Moines. Ia. s..,.. y. ~:
"One evening on my return trip I
took on a large-sized box at desolate
little country station about 40 miles
from the city. The box was fully six
feet long by yard broad and high
and was entered as merchandise on
the waybill. The station master and
1 dumped it in one end of the car and
I gave it no further thought until
about half an hour later, when hap
pened to glance in. that direction and
caught CLEAN of something bright
SAAeAAAAA6 AAAouSA d uO1c Ill Tie
side. There was a knot in one of the
boards at that, point, and 7 suppose
that the humping of the train had
Jared it loose. Anyhow, it had fallen
out, leaving an oritice the size of
half dollar, and when I bent down to
peer in / was thunderstruck to see
section of human finger. The CLEAN
had come from gold ring. During
the next few seconds did some
mighty fast thinking. It was clear
there was man in the box, and was
equally certain that he had planned
to rob and murder me. The lid was
no doubt arranged to be opened sud
denly, and he probably calculated that
my surprise and CONSERVATION would
make me an easy prey when he
emerged. I remembered in. a flash
that this identical scheme had been
worked in one or two express rob-
berries in the early days, and although
my heart was going like drum I
managed to control myself and before
I arose I had mapped out plan of
action. :, -
There was a pile of trunks in the
corner next to the box" continued the
e@x-messenger, @ "and, grabbing the up
per one suddenly by the handle, I
snatched it down right on top of the
lid. In a twinkling had another one
by its side, and then two more on top
of those. They were big, massive
trunks, such as travelling statesmen
use, and I never have been able to
understand how tossed them around
the way did, but I suppose fear must
have made me a regular Sandow,
When got the Saratogas in place I
stole another glance at the knot hole.
The finger hadn't budged hair.
He's playing possum.' I said to my
self, and Ighustled like mad to com
plete the barricade. I dragged up
everything movable in the whole car,
and by the time I got through had
the long box buried under about ten
tons Of solid express matter and mis-
cellaneous furniture. The robber
couldn't have blown himself out with.
dynamite cartridge. Then I sat
aowa on the :foor, wiped my forehead
and chuckled merrily to think how I
had soutwittedf the villain ~ - Sz.sS
s..Half an hour later we pulled into
the city, and I'll leave you to imagine
the wild sensation when I flung open
the door and explained the situation
to the boys il the depot. The next
question was how to take out the pris-
oner, and you ma well believe we
went abont itS cautiously, for it. was
fair to presume he was a desperate
fellow, and we didn't know exactly
how much fight there might be left ii.
him. When the box was at last un-l IN
covered we were asfonished to find
that thesliid was nailed down tight. Isl
Nevertheless. the finger was still plain.
IL visible. and one off the men poked
sit with d pencil. 'Holy smoke! !' he
shouted, this is the best joke of the
season Why. its nothing but S.
corpse. and as stiff as q poker, tool,
'If he's dead it' 81 because sInot thered'
shiml Z retorted !. ndignantl Tor 81
swear i heard him breat thing Just be-
fore pulled down the nks! That
was . small s. of course. and shal IS a:
minute later hen they had spE,riiedI
open the would have given al.
arm to recall What do YOU think
was inside A corpse? pt onS your
shirt waist. It cont ained four tailor,s
dummies made out Of PAPER mache,3
The one nearest the knot hole wore q
bra rim
Bee. That ven tIl tes the I1Iyge..
"a each beehive are number sof
nursing bees, who do not 90 out to
gather honey, but look after the epes
Eand young, and q certain mum are
EllWays told o1ti to Yentilate e s hive.
EThele stand close % the entrance and
I'm strongl heirs win Gil.
$50 Chronicl .g
: . 9 8 y
hst SIS s1rsput
EAhle loolIin Ilalt yotls 5nl &
Eas brot s. q.
H ll1lil; h a = i s