Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-10

OF a dozen engines would have been
powerless 10 check the heavy train
On the quarry track stood three fat
cars loaded with granite blocks for the
abutment of the new Smoky Creek
bridge. On q sauded track. rolling al
80 miles an hour and screaming in the
clutches Of the burning brakes. the
heavy engines struck the switch like
an avalanche. reared upon the granite.
laden fats, and with 40 loads OF cattle
plunged into the canyon below: not a
car remained on the rails. The head
brakeman. riding in the second cab
was instantly killed. and the engine
crews. who jumped were badly hurt.
The whole operating department OF
the road was stirred What made sbe
affair more dreadful was that il had
occurred on The time OF Number Six
the eastbound passenger train. held
that morning ct Sleepy Cat by an en-
CINE failure. Glover came 20 look into
the matter Tie testimony OF all
tended to one co1clusion-that the
quarry switch had been thrown at
some time between 4:3O and . o'clock
that morning. differences We're many:
Tramps during The early summer had
been unusually troublesome and many
OF them had been vigorously handled
by trainmel. robbery might have been
a motive. as the express cars on train
Number Six carried heavy specie ship
ments from the coast.
third and more exciting event soon
put the quarry wreck into the back
ground. Ten DAYS aftorward an east
bound passenger train was fagged in
the night az Sugar Buues. - miles
west of Sleepy Cat When the heavy
train slowed mp. two men boarded the
engine and with pistols compelled the
engineman TO cut of the express cars
and pull them 10 the watcr-tank a
mile east OF the station. Three men
there la waiting forced the express
car. blew open the safe. and the gang
rode away half an hour later loaded
with gold coin and currency.
Had a stick of dynamite been ex-
ploded under the Wickiup there could
not have been more excitement at
Medicine Bend. Within three hours
after the news reached the town a
posse under sheriff Van Horn. with a
car load Of horsehesh and "A guns.
was started for Sugar Buttes. The
trail led north and the pursuers rode
until nearly nightfan They crossed
Dutch flat and rode single file into "a
wooded canyon, where they came
upon traces of a campfire. Van Horn.
leading. jumped from his horse and
thrust his hand into the ashes: they
were still warm. and he shouted TO his
men 20 ride up. AS he called out. "A
rifecracked from the box-elder trees
ahead OF him. The sheriff fell. shot
through the head. and depaty spring
ing from his saddle TO pick him up was
shot i'm precisely the same way: the
posse. thrown into "a panic did not
fire single shot and for an hour
dared not ride back for the bodies
After dark they got The two dead men
and az midnight rode with them into
Sleepy Cat
When the news reached McCloud he
was talking with Bucks over the wires
Bucks had got INFO Headquarters az
the river late th@t night. and was get
ting details from McCloud OF the Sugar
Buttes robbery when the superinten-
dent sent him the news OF the killing
OF Van Eoru and The deputy In the
answer that Bucks sent came a name
new TO the wires OF the mountain di-
vision and rarely seen even ia special
correspondence. but Hughie Morrison.
who took the message. never forgot
that name. Hughie handed the mes
sage 10 McCloud and stood by while
the superintendent read:
Whispering Smith is due in Cheyenne
tomorrow. Meet him at the Wickiup
Sunday morning; he has ful authority.
I have told him TO get these fellows. IL il
takes all the money IN the treasury, and
not 10 stop I'm he cleans them ont Of the
Rocky Mountains. J. :. Is.