Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-02-24


de express car and make hard dollar,
where you guys gets wind"
Later on, a deputat1on waited
Bud. They stood on one leg, chawos
mesquite twigs and circumlocutad e.
they hated to hurt his feelings Dr.
foresaw their business, and mad ~
easy for them. Bigger risks onS
larger profits was what they wantad
The suggestion of Piggy's ahou.
holding up train had fired tboIS
imagination and increased their ~
miration for the dash and boldness =.
the instigator. They were such s,ro>
pie, artless and custom-bound br.h
rangers that they had never befor.
thought of extending their habits ~
yond the running off of live stock ana
the shooting of such of their acouain,.
ances as ventured to interfere.
Bud acted ION the level" agreetra
to take subordinate place in The
gang until Black Eagle should hav.
been given trial as leader.
After a great deal of consultation
studying of timetables and discussion
of the country's topography, the TINA
and place for carrying out their new
enterprise was decided upon. At that
time there was feedstuff famine in
Mexico and cattle famine in certain
parts of the United States, and thera
was a brisk international trade MucN
money was being shipped along tha
railroads that connected the two ra
publics. 1t was agreed that the most
promising place for the contemplated
robbery was at Espina little sta
ton on the 1. & G. NJ about FORTY
miles north of Laredo The train
stopped there one minute; the coun,
try around was wild and unsettled.
the station consisted of but one houss
in which the agent lived
Black Eagles band set out, riding
by night Arriving in the vicinity Of
Espina they rested their horses all
day in a thicket a few miles distant.
The train was due at Espina at
1920 p. m. They could rob the train
and be we'll over the Mexican border
with their booty by daylight the next
morning
To do Black Eagle justice, he ey.
hibited no signs of f1inchtng from the
responsible honors that had been con.
ferred upon him.
He assigned his men to their re.
spective posts with discretion, and
coached them carefully as to tleir
duties. On each side of the track
four of the band were to lie concealed
in the chaparral. Gotch-Ear Rodgers
was to stick up the station agent.
Broncho Charlie was to remain with
the horses, holding them IN readiness.
At a spot where it was ca Culated the
engine would be when the train
stopped, Bud King was to lie hidden
on one side, and Black Eagle himself.
on the other. The two would get the
drop on the engineer and flremen
force them to descend and proceed
to the rear. Then the express car
would be looted, and the escape made.
No one was to move until Black Eagle
gave the signal by firing his revolver
The plan was perfect.
At ten minutes to train time every
man was at his post, effectually con-
cealed by the thick chaparral that
grew almost to the rails The night
was dark and lowering with a fine
drizzle falling from the flying gulf
clouds. Black Eagle crouched behind
a bush within five yards Of the track
- hn1foH GROUND
him. Occasionally he drew large
black bottle from his pocket and
raised it to his mouth.
A star appeared far down the track
which soon waxed into the headlight
Of the approaching train. 1t came On
with an increasing roar; the engine
bore down upon the ambush1ng des'
peradoes with a glare and snrlek
like some avenging monster come u
deliver them to justice. Black ha8ls
f1attened himself upon the grouna'
The engine, contrary to their Car
culations, instead Of stopping between
him and Bud Kings place OF conce@r
ment, passed fully forty yards far'ne'
before it came to stand.
The bandit leader rose to Lis lee'
and peered around the bush, H!'
men all lay quiet, awaiting the signal
Immediately opposite Black Eagle Ta'
a thing that drew his attention ~
stead of being q, regular paSSCnoO.
train it was a mixed one beloiI
him stood box car, the door
which, by some means, had been iel'
slightly open. Black Eagle went Up
to it and pushed the door IaI'Ho'
open An odor came forth-a uamN
rancid, familiar, musty, intoXlcaIna.,
beloved odor, stirring strongly a' Wv
memories Of happy days and tIaseS
Black Eagle shifted at the Wl'cni ro
smell as the returned wanderer sni0 ca.
Of the rose that twines his ooynoou
cottage home. Nostalgia seizea Hl-1'
He put his hand Inside. EXcelSioi
dry, springy, curly, soft, enticing' Wv
cred the floor. Outside the dE'IA''
had turned to chilling rain
The train bell changed. The Oahu"
chief unbuCkled his belt and ca0' ~
with it's revolvers, upon the gfouIa
His spurs followed quickly anu as
y ,.otr