Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-07-09
How the Train
Was Held Up
Copyright. isie. by American Press
Association.
b. BEVERLY woRTHNcroN

ana farther from civilization. What
had been three carloads at the start
was soon reduced 70 one. and finally
all save about dozen passengers had
dropped or. The country becoming
arid, nothing TO look at outside and
nothing TO do inside. some OF us got
together TO talk. There was Metho' |
dist minister IN a white cravat ana q
woman dressed in calico. an lrishman
with a red head and q colored man.
Others there were. but these four are
especially impressed on my memory:
We had exhausted every topic we
/ could think of and were pining Tor
something TO break the mono;ony or
tho journey when the conductor came
In and said to US: !
"We're coming TO a place. a cut ana
q curve In the road. where there Is
possibility Of the train being held up.
II you people have any valuables that
you don't care TO lose you had better
dispose OF them In some way by waicn
they won't show up"
"How do you know the train Is liko-
" 70 be held upY' asked the Irishman.
IA man got on at the last station
who said that his little daughter. only
twelve years old. had heard some men
having a plan. They had agreed that
they would go through this very train
and at the cut two miles beyond Rae
coon. There's only one cut about there.
and there's a curve In It"
.why don't you go back?" asked the
woman. trembling.
because there's no certainty about
the matter. don't know how well
can depend on the Information. II
backed at every such report. throwing
the roads schedule out, I'd soon get
my walking papers"
"where's the man who told about
this?"
''In the baggage car"
One or two OF the passengers went
forward to interview the fnformer'
while the others began to take meas
ures to put their valuables In places
where they would not likely be found
We had left Raccoon and would be In
the cut 10 few minutes. The woman
unlocked her dress In front and cram
med In q pocketbook. The lrishman.
thinking that she would not be likely
20 be forced to disrobe. asked her IL
she would kindly take charge or roll
Of bills FOR him. She consented. NO
one of the other passeugers-they we're
al mcn-seemed to be satisfied 10 keep
his vaiuables on his person. so one by
oke- they went to the woman and ask
ed her to be their temporary safe de-
posis. She was very obllging. but. not
having room where she had put her
cwn pocketbook. she suggested that
they tie up their goods In their hand
kerchiefs and she would pin then
on to the waistband Of her petticoat.
This seemed so admirable a plan
that every man In the car came to this
lone woman and begged the protection
Of her skirts for bis money. watch and
5eweiry Of every kind. She was lit
orally loaded down with them, having
circle Of suspended articles around
her waist.
The news that the train was likely
10 be held up was carried into the
next car back-thcre were but two
passenger cars-and half dozer per
sons came into our car 10 learn about
the matter. There was no more room
for vamables under the woman's skirt,
but the minister stepped forward with
a plan, much 10 the relief Of these
newcomers. Taking Off his silk hat.
he said .
II am carrying funds for the church.
and. knowing OF the danger Of being
robbed In this wild country. had n
false top pat In my hat have room
for what money any Of you may wish
to secrete."
He took out the false top and put II
back again on all the money there was
left unprovided for.
But there was no room In the clergy
mans hat except for money. The col
ored man opened a worn suit case that
looked as II I. would scarcely bold TO
Eether to complete the journey and
among the contents. some solled under
clothes, hid a ffty cent piece and two
nickels. all the money he had. This
seemed 10 those passengers whose
watches and jewelry had not been tax
en- care OF the scme Of fine hiding
places. No robber would expect 10
end anything In that suit case among
neoCO's solied undercIotbeS. Conse-
qaentiy the goods that had no, yet
been hidden were dumped into the tat
tered receptacle.
By the time the last article bad been
stored sway the train reached the cut
The passengers heid their breath
while passing through q and breatbesi
szsiE on reaching the other end. When
they were CONCENTRATING themselves
on getting through safely there was =
jerk on the bell rope. and the train