The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-09-17

Yelling when there are really only three
or four. and the muzzle OF u gun looks
as big as the mouth of a funnel
To the highwayman, on the other
hand. the danger isn't anything 10
speak of, and he doesn't mind the trou-
BILE One man has come pretty near
holding up a train; two have succeeded
a few times; three, can do it if they
hustle; but five is about the right num-
ber.''
The element of surprise is really their
strongest ally They can count on it to
demoralize the opposition At one time
the Dalton gang, being very clipper and
neryy, got in the way of notifying the
railroads that they were going to hold
I'D at Il given time and place Once they
sent word that they would meet the
train az Pryor Greek, l. T. Naturally
a ear load of deputy naarshals and
things were sent down with that train.
armed to the teeth But at Pryor Creek
the hold-up failed TO come off The
men settled back and began telling one
another what they would have done TO
the robbers had they shown up
Adair is the next station 10 Pryor
Greek At Adair- the conductor burst
in on them. gasping. Train robbers"
Some of the deputies lit out struck the
their guns under their seats. Two made
! a fight and were killed In ten min
utes the Daltons We're in possession Of
the train. In twenty more they had
robbed the express car OF $1,000 and
made clean getaway And it was the
surprise that did IT. and the surprise
that Dalton counted on Had he at
tackled the car at Pryor Creek where
he was expected, he would probably.
There was one bandit last month. how
ever that found his match in the matter
OF surprising. He didn't hold up train.
only the stage that runs through tho
Yosemite Valley. 1t was on its way 10
Raymond, and among its passengers
was Miss Anna Agnes Wilkinson.
Philadelphia school teacher. who lives
1T 64I North Union street. IN the Quaker
City Possibly long years of residence
in that gang strong hold, has accuStom-
ed her to being held UP. Anyhow, she
took IL very quietly-secreted the bulk
of her mouthers and sisters money as
well as her own. while The robber WAS
busy with the men on the stage. and
persuaded him 10 let her take his
picture like u good fellow The result -
probably the only photograph -of q
/ highWayrnan on the scene of action in
existence He will be noted in the back
ground wearing a mask and a linen
duSter In the foreground are three OF
the men who had been held up Still
under orders 10. keep their hands be-
hind them He vas "a very nice footDad.
Miss Wilkinson says. most polite and
obliging, and chaffed them al most good
naturedly while relieving them of their
YaluS bseS
II is resliy one OF the 'biighting effects
of civilization, and OF the westward prog
reSS or the star OF empire--this passing
OF the train robber. Doubtless the pro-
ti1ns has something to do with it, For
even the gentlemen of thea road have
got their iivings 10 make. prosaic as
that fact may seem. and train. robbing
as profession no longer pays. The
train roober of today-the few of him
that SurVive-lurSueS his vocation pure
l. from an unqaenchable sporting spirit
/ And even as sport. as o. Henry has
pointed out. IL is not TO be comma red
for either pleasure or profit with the,
| allied trades OF politics or cornering the
market