Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-08-03
How the Train
Was Held Up
B. BEVERLY woRTrMcroN


AL day We sped on. getting farthel
and further from civilization What
had been three carloads at the start
was soon reduced to one. and dnally
all save about q dossp passengers had
dropped on The country becoming
arid. nothing to look at outside and
nothing to do inside. some Of N got
together 10 TALK. There was q Aetho-
dist minister In Q white cravat and Q
woman dressed In calico. an freshman
with q 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 for
something to break the monotony Of
the journey when the conductor came
IN and said to ~:
"we're coming to q place. . cut and
Q curve In the road. where there IL q
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 which
they won't show up"
"How do you know the train b like
y to be held upr' asked the Irishman.
"A man got on At the last station
who said that bis little daughter. only
twelve years old. had heard some men
laying q plan They had agreed that
they would 80 through this very train
and At the cut two miles beyond Rac-
coon There's only one cut about there.
and there's q curve In It."
why don't you 60 back? asked the
woman. trembling.
Because there's no certainty about
the matter. I don't know how wen
can depend on the Information II
backed at every such report. throwing
the roads schedule ont. I'd soon get
my walking papers"
where's the man who told about
thisf"
3 In the baggage car"
One or two Of the passengers went
forward to interview the informer.
while the others began to take meas
ures to put their valuables In places
where they would not likely b found
We had left Raccoon and would BE- In
the cut In few minutes. The woman
unlocked her dress In front and cram
med IN q pocketbook. The freshman.
thinking that she would not Be likely
to BE- forced to disrobe. asked her II
she would kindly take charge Of roll
Of bills for him. She consented No
ooe. OF the other passengers-they were
all men-seemed to b satisfied to keep
his vaiuables on bis person, % one By
one they went to the woman and ask
Cd her to be their temporary safe de-
posit- She was very obliging, but, not
having room where she had put her
own pocketbook. she suggested that
they tie up their goods In their hand
kefchiefs and she would pin them
on to the waistband Of her petticoat
This seemed 20 admirable q plan
that every man 10 the car came to this
lone woman and begged the protection
Of her skirts for his money. watch and
jewelry 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
to be held up was carried into the
NEXT car back-there were but two
passenger cars-and half q dozen per-
sons came into our car to learn about
the matter. There was no more room
for valuables under the woman's skirt.
but the minister stepped forward with
4 plan. much to the relief Of these
newcomer Taking Oh his silk hat
he said
Il am carrying funds for the church.
and. knowing Of the danger Of being
robbed In this wild country. had q
false top put In my hat ! have room
for what money any Of ron may wish
to secrete."
He took out the false top and put 1t
back again on all the money there was
left unprovided for.
But there was no room In tho clergy
mans hat except for money. The col
ored man opened a worn suit case that
looked a. II 1t would scarcely bold to-
gether to complete the journey and
among the contents. some soiled under
clothes. hid ffty cent piece and two
nickels. all the money he had This
seemed TO those passengers whose
watches and jewelry had not been TAX
en- care of the acme Of dne hiding
places. No robber would expect TO
find anything In that suit case among
4 negro's soiled underclothes. Conse-
Quently the goods that had not yet
been hidden were dumped into the tat
tered receptacle.
By the dime the last article had been
stored away the train reached the cut.
The passengers held their breath
while passing through 1t and breathed
again on reaching the other end When
they were congratulating themselves
on getting through safely there was q
jerk on the bell rope. and the train
suddenly came to stop.
The passengers turned pale and kept
their seats except the clergyman. the
woman and the negro. They went to