The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

gHERE were thirteen men n, II.
the smoker of a train on me
sioux City & Pacific rallroau
when if drew out of Omaha a.
six O'Clock on Friday evening,
90 Novern Der 4, 1892, ana staIeSu
~, s+s eastward run Among these
thirteen. sitting about halfway down
the aisle, enjoying good cigar "a
Mr. W. G. Pollock, OF New I Or, 2
travelling salesman for W r. -
& Co, Of the same city, dealers IN ~ 80 u1el.
r1onds In the inside pocket or ms Eesl
he carried $4,000 worth or uncut "a
rnouds while a leather satchei on liis
seat beside him contained a quantity OF
valuable stones in settings.
on the front seat Of the car, JUS
babfnd The stove. sat a stOlid-looking
Young man. who would have passed TOT
8 farmers lad. He seemed scarcely
over 90, having neither beard nor mus mus
fache and a stranger Woulu nave poe
him down as rather stupid LholLeI i
eive fellow Compared with MT Fol-
lock he was sIighter in build. although
an inch or so taller AS he sat tnere
staring at the stove, the passenger IN
the seat behind him. ]. H. Shaw, an
Omaha well-digger, a bluff, hearty man
OF social instincts, tried to draw MIN
into conversation; but the young re4-
low only shook his head sulktly, and
the well-digger relapsed into silence.
Presently as the train was approach
ing California Junction, the young
man on the front seat rose and started
down the aisle. Curiously enough, he
now wore full beard of black hair
five or six inches long. No one paid
any attention to him until he stopped
at Mr.. Pollock.s seat. drew revolver,
and said loud enough for every one In
the car to hear him:
"Give me them diamonds"
Then, without waiting for reply,
he shifted the revolver to his left
hand, drew a slung-shot from his coat
pocket. and struck Mr.. Pollock over
the head such a heavy blow that the
bag Of the slung-shot burst, and the
shot itself fell to the floor Then he
said. again GIVE me them dia-
monds."
Realizing that the situation was des-
perate. Mr. Pollock took out his peck
etbook and handed 1t to his assailant,
saying. "I have only hundred dol
lars: here it is
Pushing back the pocketboOk as if
unworthy Of mis- attention. the man
coolly aimed his revolver at Mr.. Pol
locks right shoulder and fired Then
he aimed at the left shoulder and
fred Both bullets hit, and were fol-
lowed by two more, which went whtz-
ling by the diamond merchants head
on either side, missing him, perhaps
by accident. but probably by design, as
the men were not three feet apart.
BY this time the other people in the
car had disappeared under the seats
like rats into their holes. To all in
tents and purposes Mr.. Pollock was
alone with his assailant. The latter evil
IDENTIFY knew where the diamonds were
secreted, for ripping open his victim S
vest he drew out the leather wallet in
which they were inelosed. and stuffed
1t into his pocket Wounded though
ne was. Mr. Pollock now grappled with
the thief, who, using the butt of his
revolver as a cudgel. brought down
fearful blows on Pollock head The
latter, however, getting into the aisle,
fought the rObber up and down the car,
but a crushing blow at last laid him
senseless on the floor.
With perfect self-possession and
without hurry the thief walked back
down the aisle to Mr. POllock's seat,
and took one Of the two leather bags
lying there. by mistake choosing,
though. the one that did not contain
the mounted diamonds. Then he went
to the end Of the car, pulled the bell
rope, and as the train began to
slacken its speed in response to this
signal. jumped off the steps, rolled
down a bank fifteen feet high. and
disappeared.
Sharing. apparently. in the general
CONSERVATION and terror inspired by
the young fellow, the conductor, in
stead Of holding the train to pursue
the thief. signaled the engineer to 90
ahead, and no effort was made for a
capture until the train reached Cali
fornia Junction, several miles farther
on Meanwhile, the panfc-stricken
passengers recovered, at their leisure.
their cOmpOsure and their seats. Had
Dur one or his fellOW-traVel gone to
the assistance of Mr.. Pollock, the rob
Der might easily have been overpow-
cred. AS it was he all but murdered
his man, plundered him of his dfa-
monds. and escaped without the slight
H1 flGr-n
picked up, near the spot where he