The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-28
BRAVE ROSS MILLER
Wichita Boy Does a Daring
Thing in Colorado.
HE DEFENDS HIS TRAIN
SmasheS a Robber and Proves
Himself a Hero.

|
est The Colorado papers are ringing
| with his daring.
A few years ago Ross Miller, the son
Of George Miller of :his city. was here
riding about the country on his bicycle,
and in common with the rest Of the ma
| ton, was in love with wheeling. And he
had speed, too. It was not long until he
began to race and accumulate medals.
Then the cycling craze died away and
Ross went out to Colorado and became
a brakeman. He worked along diligently,
but not until Tuesday morning last did
all the officials of his road suddenly come
to know him by name and the whole
state of Colorado to sound his praises.
The Denver Evening post tells the story
as follows:
The courage Of Brakeman Ross Miller
alone prevented the robbery of the Den
yer and Rio Grande train from Leadville
to Denver early this morning
Train No. IS. an hour and a half late,
rumbled down to grade crossing 40. 4,
between Florence and Beaver, where the
|
Rio Grande, about $3.50 o'clock a. m.
| AS the train stopped at the Santa Fe
crossing. eight miles from Florence, the
engineer pulled his whistle. This was
also a signal for the brakeman to go out
on the back platform. There were FIVE
cars on the train. a baggage and mail
car, two passenger coaches and two Pull
mans, the Aspen and the Granite"
Brakeman Miller was in the Granite
smoking room, and slipped on his heavy
gloves and took his white lantern in his
right hand. He had scarcely gained the
platform when out Of the stiffness of the
night voice hailed him
Throw up your hands, quick" sharply
exclaimed a small, broad-shouldered man
with a big black SLOUGH hat who stood
on the lower step to the right. The grim
outline of a big revolver cleaned bright
| ly in the glow Of the lantern light, point
| ing straight at the head Of the brake
man
| Not an instant did Miller hesitate,
though confronted with the loaded pistol.
Throw up your hands, said the hold
up.
Not by de- sight" cried Miller and
with all the strength of his good right
arm he swung and dashed the heavy
haIf-inch glass lantern upon the head of
the man with the gun. Violent and IN
expected was the blow.
Scarcely had the crash OF the shattered
globe sounded in the air when the pistol
in the robbers hand cracked viciously
Miller sprang back into the doorway of
/ the sleeper just in time. The bullet from
a SS-calbre revolver bored its way
through the woodwork of the door imme-
diately afterward. Miller jumped round
the corner of the vestibule into the car
He was none too soon
The holdup, furious at the rebuff he had
received, determined to kill the brake
man who had folled him. Stepping upon
the platform of the sleeper he shot again
in the direction taken by the brakeman
Then he stood still, listening.
II the brave brakeman was dead he
would yet go through the car and secure
some money for his attempt
The next moment Miller opened fire
with his revolver through the doorway
The hoIdup sprang out of sight behind TIE
corner of the car and stood waiting, gun
in hand.
Edward Rice, the colored porter Of the
Granite sleeper, who lives at Eigh-
teenth and Blake streets, was shining
shoes when he heard the shots He ran
rapidly through the car into the Aspen
and notified Pullman Conductor ". s
Cook
Conductor Cook hurried back through
his car into the Granite Gun In hand.
Miller sprang to the platform followed
by Conductor Cook. They were just IN
time to see the train robber disappear
amid the high weeds which lined the
track. Cook noticed that he had black
mustache AS he jumped into the weeds
the robber exclaimed angrily, You -
-, III get you yet" The train NOV
ed on.
Brakeman Ross Miller lives at 115 South
Broadway and Conductor Cook lives at
the Grand Central hotel.
Miller took two quick shots at him, but
the light was poor. There was no re-
Spouse. Silence succeeded the sharp
cracks of his pistol. No harm had teen
done except to the lantern Its glass
was shivered and its wires bent and
twisted BY the force Of the brakeman's
blow, and ii was 1attened.
IN bet he has a headache said Mil
CT Of the robber. with q smile al Cook,
who promptly assented.
The train was crowded with passengers
and some Of the Pullman berths had two
occupants. Many OF them were women.
and most OF the travellers had consider
able money with them
\ wave OF gratitude swept along the
train when its occupants heard O. The
nerve of the brakeman which had saved
them from being robbed
Let's make up purse for him was
the cry. and it wos done Immediately.
Everyone gladly contributed something
to the hat that was passed round, ard
when J. Q. Allen OF Telluride. a wei
known surgeon. presented the contents
10 the surprised brakeman. L was found
% contain about 81, Miller protested
against being rewarded. ard declared n
a manly way that Re had only done NIat
any man would have done. but the pa
ssnGers knew better. They shook his
hand warmly and wishs3 h.sa sacce IS
and promotion.
Among those On the train were:
Mrs D. Mccarthy. praprlstrssz Of tie
Bonaccord hotel IN Denver. who RAJ