The wageworker., 1909-10-23

Then he was ready
for business-grim business-and the
more he got of it the better he seemed
to like it and the more he sputtered
and fumed
At the right of his desk was a COM
plete arsenal-a cabinet in which
stood row of menacing Winchesters
In corner of the room rested another
case and it contained an assortment
of handouts and some balls and
chains, the whole reminiscent of a
chamber in penitentiary
This man, the up-to-date chief of de-
tectives of big railroad with Chicago
terminals, is the man who directs a
continuous campaign against thieves
who invade the yards of the system
and break open freight and passenger
cars, stations and freight sheds, car
ry1ng away anything liftable. 1t is
the duty of this railroad police con-
stable, whose official title is "chief
special agent" to put up his shields,
so to speak, at every point on a great
system and keep an eye at long range
on small army of assistants who run
down robber bands which infest the
road. Thus, from Chicago to Texas
and California, the chief special agent
OF one of the through western lines is
kept busy catching thieves and send
ing them to prison.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars
worth of goods and railroad equip
ment are stolen annually in numerous
sections of the country and If the
thieves are to be run to their lairs,
prosecuted and sent to prison the
special agents and their assistants
have large contract on their hands
A favorite plunder in the eyes of
thieves is silk. Only the other day ad-
vices were received of $4,000, 900
cargo of silks and other goods loaded
on single boat, bound from Aslatic
ports to San Francisco. OF this cargo
much was silk. Thieves look longing
ly on that fabric as means of profit
and they always can find conscience
less purchasers. However, silk trains,
when east-bound to the markets, are
carefully watched, and there are ever
on guard special agents, good shots,
ready to pick off train robbers if they
attempt to loot cars in transit across
the mountains or the lonely plains
In Chicago and other cities the
freight car thieves are not too partic-
ular about what they steal. Some loot
the cars for merchandise of all sorts,
with preference for provisions and
| liquors. Others seek out clothing
| One of the methods in favor with
professional railroad thieves is to
spot" a box car loaded with a guam.
| tity of silk, enter it through the end
door at Buffalo or some other point
and accompany it on it's journey until
| it arrives at a quiet place out in the
| country many miles away where the
| grade is heavy, necessitating slow go
| ing. When a place agreed upon has
been reached the plunder is tossed out
| to confederates in waiting with a
| team of horses and wagon
A short time ago the sheriff of Lake
county, Indiana, was driving late al
night toward Hobart when he came
upon span of horses hitched among
the trees off the roadside. Slowing up
he saw men carrying large packages
from the side of a railroad track neal
! by. He drew his revolver, commanded
halt and the frightened thieves
made off, leaving valuable team
wagon and stolen goods, mostly silk
behind. The robbers believed that ar
entire posse was after them. A similar
case is reported from Valparaiso Ind
In each instance the thieves had ac
companied the train a long distance
1t is said the most expert of the rail
road thieves are former employees o.
the roads. The special agents main
tain blacklist consisting of the
names of former railroad men who
have been convicted of thievery