The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-03
IN THE EARLY DAYS.
SomeExperiences of Conductor Rashach,
Who Died Last Thursday,

SomeExperence OF Conductor Rasbach,
Who Died Last Thursday.
News has been received o. the death At
Parsons, Kan, Of CHARLEY Rasbach, who
died last Thursday at his home In that
city. Deceased was wei known in Texas,
especially to the railroad people He mad
the distinction Of running the first train
over the Red river bridge, north Of Den
ison, In 1872. He was for q long time In
the employ Of the Missouri Kansas and
Texas as passenger conductor between Par
sons, Kan, and Denson, Texas. lie par
ticipated in many thrilling episodes In the
early history Of the Katy In the Indian
Territory when II was a wild and WOODY
country and the Katy new anu ruueN
built railroad, and the only one running
through the Territory. He ran tue nrSt
train THAT entered DcusOD before that
nlace was town and before single house
was erected there. Ii was tlckHSu
Job. that ~ conductor, in these dAys anu
n man carried his life In his hands upon
every trip. He knew net after leaving
Inc starting point whether be would be
nlivc or net II Is rellted of Conductor
Rasbach that he was very diplomatic IN III;
dealings with the patrons OF the toau, anu
tha. he could 40 more by mora suasloh
than Others could do with Wlnchestets.
ono Of the best stories told Of KasDacn
was the thwartlng of gang OF tram ruo ,
hers At one time In early daNt one on tnt
gangs Operatlng IN the lndlan TERRITORY
had planned hold-up. A hold-up IN those
days meant great loss OF money, ahu pos
sibly life as the country was via luu sn-
hahlted nv desperate men me pan LOT ,a
rhe robbery was for some or the ronDers
10 board the train and the others or me
band 10 hold 1t up at Pryor creek. me
men were ready TO DO anything 70 hcCo'o.
there were armed men who were passcn-
gers on the trains, and that a holu up
meant fight, and light meant that soh's'
body would be killed In the hand OF ron
hers II was the plan OF the rObbers on
the train to get the drop on any OF an OF
the men In the train VINO haPpeheu 70 70
armed, thereby preventing loss o. ~. ntv,
Half Of the band OF men boarded the trala
near the Kansas line aud were TO take care
OF recalcitrant passengers when lhe res
of the band held up the train at Pryor
, Greek. - p..n,,n,,
train. NE knew some Of them and knew
that their presence meant the train WAS
In he held M. He did not give any alarm
or cali up any officers. He got the leader
of the gang on in one corner ana a 3 Sim H'i
he was onto the game lie said 70 NM
''Jim, ! know what's up. want 70 say
70 YOU, for | know you are friend on
mine, that il this train is held up ~ mean ns
the loss OF my job. and probably worse
consequences for me- aud there Is not
enough money in the express car 70 pay
YOU fellows for the work. why ooh '0u
hut Il of for q whileF no,5
The fellow would not admit that a hoi nor.
un was Contemplated Rasbach insisted
that he knew one was plOnned, ana hn l,.,;'
the tDen told him, after n long connusht,ln
obot tbat n hold up had hecn planned bnl
that that he would stop 1t. He kept his wore
Wien the traln was stepped at fry9i
t'rt ok the men on board got on, totu tne 81,
confcdprates there was no use 20 nStu ~
ri,e train ms there was no doodle aooara
and the leader gave the engineer the sik
nal &c go ahead aud the train pulled Hsr,I on,
without an attempt 70 S SES 40 10 IN the s4f,
at the time.