Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-11-18
CHAPTER TX.
Sweeping Orders.

CHAPTER TX.
Sweeping Orders.
he burning of Smoky Creek bridge
Moo hardly or the minds OF the noun
I to&n men when disaster OF differ-
~ sort befell the division. In the
RAJ valley east of Sleepy Cat the main
NM springs between two ranges of
Nils with a dip and long supported
&xale In each direction. At the point
The dip there is switch from
NNlch spur runs to granite quarry.
a1e track for two miles is straight
! 40 the switch-target and lights are
9n. easily from either direction save
Qne particular moment of the day
moment which Is in the valley
nqlther quite day nor quite night.
pcMn this grade. few weeks after
the Smoky Greek fire, came double
headed stock train from the Short
Line with 40 cars of steers. The
switch stood open; this much was
afterward abundantly proved. The
train came down the grade very fast
N gain speed for the hill ahead of it.
The head engineman. too late, saw the
open target. He applied the emergency
e1r, threw his engine over, and whis-
ftIed the alarm. The mightiest efforts
#0f a dozen engines would have been
powerless to check the heavy train
On the quarry track stood three fiat
ears loaded with granite blocks for the
nbutment Of the new Smoky Greek
! bridge. On sanded track, rolling at
~ miles an hour and screaming In the
Witches of the burning brakes. the
Aoavy. engines struck, the switch like
~ avalanche, reared upon the granite
Mden fats. and with 40 loads of cattle
Winged into the canyon below; not a
Gnr remained on the rails. The head
4 neakeman. riding In the second cab
as instantly killed. and the engine
ews. who jumped. were badly hurt.
8 The whole operating department Of
be road was stirred. What made the
ffair more dreadful was that it had
incurred on the time of Number Six,
NE east-bound passenger train, held
That morning at Sleepy Cat by an en-
tine failure. Glover came to look into
fhe matter. The testimony of all
4ended to one conclusion-that the
quarry switch had been thrown at
Dme time between 4:3O and o'clock
nat morning. differences were many:
ramps during the early summer had
cen unusually troublesome and many
80 them had been vigorously handled
~ trainmen; robbery might have been
motive. as the express cars on train
Number Six carried heavy specie ship
nents from the coast.
NH A third and more exciting event soon
out the quarry wreck into the back
r0und Ten days afterward an east
oound passenger train was tagged In
the night at Sugar Buttes. IL miles
vest Of Sleepy Cat. When the heavy
1rain slowed up, two men boarded the
engine and with pistols compelled the
ngineman to cut OH the express cars
md pull them to the water-tank q
lile east OF the station. Three men
lera In waiting forced the express
g, blew open the safe. and the gang
de away half an hour later loaded
fh gold coin and currency.
Had stick OF dynamite been ex-
pded under the Wickiup there could
M9t have been more excitement at
Medicine Bend. Within three hours
03ter the news reached the town !
csse under. Sheriff Van Horn, with q
IF load of horseflesh and IA guns,
Was started for Sugar Buttes. The
Trail led north and the pursuers rode
until nearly nightfall. They crossed
butch fat and rode single file into .
gOOded canyon. where they came
pom traces Of campfire. Van Horn,
badtng. jumped from his horse and
Arust his hand into the ashes: they
ere still warm. and he shouted to his
Non to ride up. A he called out. a
etnecracked from the box.elder trees
ahead Of him. The sheriff fell, shot
Through the head. and 4 deputy spring.
ing from his saddle to pick him up was
shot IN precisely the same way; the
posse. thrown into panic, did not
1lre single shot, and for an hour
dared not ride back for tire bodies
After dark they got the two dead men
md It midnight rode With them into
gleepy Cat.
When the news reached McCloud he
was talking with Bucks over the wires
Dneln - sot into headquarters u