Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-29
RAILWAY HOLD-UPS.
Not Easy to Stick to a Given Line of
Defense.

Defense.
From the New Orleans Times Democrat.
1.-The suggestion that every train crew
should be put through 'rObber drill as
precaution against hod-ups. Is sound and
sensible" said an experienced railroad man
yesterday. THE Illinois Central Limited.
which was robbed Thursday night, carried
eleven men all told. including the two mail
clerks. and if they had had any definite plan
Of action they could easily have stood off
handful Of highwaymen or probably have
captured the entire outfit. But they were
thrown into wild confusion and instead Of
offering any resistance they were trotting
around eagerly at lone robbers orders un-
fastening couplings. boosting him into bag
gage cars and helping him blow open doors
with dynamite. The only wonder Is that
the rascal didn't send them inside TO search
the passengers while he was sorting out the
registered mall.
However 1 am not posing critic"
continued the railroad man, smiling grimly.
''lf had been there would probably have
done anything the bandit suggested. from
setting brake to standing on my head.
but what l was about to remark was thai
all this humiliating scene might have been
avoided II the crew had only known what 10
do: 1t ought to be easy senough to map out
effective program Or course. one
might say that nobody could anticipate ex-
aclly how an attack would be made, and
consequently any preconcerted plan of &C.
ton would be futile, but while that Is true
as to detail there are certain generalitles
that could be readily covered.
ITO begin with the robbers always appear
at the engine, and there ought TO be an cleo
trio push button In the cab which would ring
an emergency gong in the coaches. AT the
sound of the alarm all lights should be in
stantly extinguished. and l believe that tha:
maneuver of itself would prevent any ban
dit. no matter how bold. from trying to eff
feet entrance. The risk would be too
great. and by carrying lantern he would
simply make target of himself. modern
sleeping car. by the way. Is splendid place
for an ambuscsde. To get into 1t one must
traverse a narrow corridor at the left OF the
salon. and whole gang Of desperadoes
would be shot down. one at a time, as they
emerged. 1t goes without saying that the
hold-up program should include the carry
ing of few arms. Every sleeper, at least.
ought to have couple of sawed-off shot
guns stored away in the porter's closet.
There Is nothing like sawed-off shotgun
for conducting an argument with train rob-
bers. 1t makes a g1e eat hit with them every
time 1t speaks. The expense Of such an
equipment would be trif1ing, a paltry baga-
telle compared to the loss involved in one
successful hold-up."
81 was on one Of the Pullmans in the train
that was robbed the other night" said a
gentleman who had listened to the little
homily of the railroad man. 'and have my
doubts whether a whole crate full of sawed
off shotguns would have materially improv-
ed the situation To make myself clear. I'll
tell you one Of the numerous unwritten in
cidents Of the affair. After the terrible dy
Mantle explosion had assured us Of what
was going on outside. the passengers drift
ed together at the rear end Of the car and
held a distracted council Of war. I had
nothing to suggest myself, because / was
scared stiff and hadn't an idea to my name,
except to lay low: but big. fne-looking
man rose up majestically and bewailed our
Impotence. oh! this Is terrible! he ex-
claimed. Here we are. caught like rats In
a trap and nothing better than a pocket
knife for fight. II only had a gum he
said I'd go forward and slaughter the first
scoundrel that entered the door, I had a
pistol in my hip pocket. and I promptly
hauled It out and rendered 1t to him. He
turned green around the Jaws when he saw
the weapon and hastily waved me away.
No. MOI he sad. I can't rob you Of your
only means Of defense! It would be inhu-
man. 1t would be criminal! II you were
killed I'd feel like your murderer! You
might as we'll take It, said I. for I'm 80
badly scared myself that I couldn't pull the
trigger II is CT no use to me in the world
I won't do It, he protested. backing off.
I decline to leave you helpless! refuse
positively to accept such a terrible re-
sponsibil'ty!
by that time, however several Of the
other passengers Joined me in forcing the
revolver on him, and at last he took 1t gin
gerly in his hand. But II am killed al
the door, he said. this will leave you all
without a weapon Of any kind NO. 1t