Morris tribune., 1912-01-19

the locomotive stood and carried 1t TO
the express car.
/ had not noticed this tie and my
heart stopped beating as l realized that
it would have spoiled my plan and re-
suited in my death. The robbers took
the tie up onto the front platform of
the express car and began an attempt
TO use it to break in the door. But
the tie was six feet long or thereabouts
while the distance between the tender
and the car was not as much. The
consequence was that the robbers had
| not sufficient space in which to work
with it. Nevertheless they persevered.
Another plan, far more desperate than
| the first, must needs pop into my head.
| If / could run down to it, uncouple
the car, then dash forward into the cab
could move on, carrying with me the
express car. But l must take the rob-
bers with me. They would climb up
over the tender and shoot me down.
Yet there would be chances for me.
Firstly, on finding the train moving
they might be disconnected and get off.
But even if they did l could hardly
hope to acquire speed in time to leave
them behind. Again. having put. on
steam I could fight had no arms,
but l could use Jumps Of coal. All
this was folly. but had been seized
by a mania for carrying out my
scheme. and hundred deyilscould not
have stopped me. Besides was push
ing forward. Happenings in my favor
might arise. "
Anyway, l resolved togo to the rear
of the express car. What / would do
when got there / didn't know.
found the conductor and several men
/ passengers who, freed from the pres.
ence Of the robbers, had. got together
what arms were on the train and were
debating possible use for them. But
it was evident they had not got their
courage up to a point where they could
use them, and they had no plan or
leader. Without stopping to inquire as
to their armament, said:
! "Here, you men! I'm going forward
to get on the locomotive. which is de.
serted. One of you go; up there where
you can see me, and when | give a
signal uncouple right. here. Then all
who have firearms go forward, and
when put on steam send all the bull
lets you can in among the robbers on
the front platform"
Good cried the conductor, who
would have done something before
this If he had had a plan.
scurried forward, keeping close I'm.
der the car, passing the front platform
in the same way. and in quarter OF
Il minute was in the cab. A man
stood where he could see me. l nod
ded to him and waited, 1t seemed to
me an eternity before the car was I'm
coupled. l knew when it had been by
seeing my supports advance on both
sides Of the train. They had been
added to by the messenger, with
whom they had succeeded in c0mmu
nicating, and had got more arms from
the express car, I gave a jerk on the
whistle, threw back the lever and lei
on steam.
The moment my supports heard the
whistle they opened fire, the locomo
tive and express car moving at the
same time. The robbers were taker
by surprise. One man fell dead two
were shot while jumping off the plat
form, while fourth got away. / die
not know of this at the time. / only
knew that no one interfered with me
l had the express treasure behind me
and did not stop till had reached the
next station. There armed men gO
, aboard the locomotive, It was switch
. ed away from the express car anC
: rushed back. But the fracas had al
; been over before l had made a hun
: bred yards.
So it was that the ,maddest scheme
that ever entered the brain of farm
er's boy was made practicable by cir
T cumstances. Indeed, when the rob
bers left the rear door of the express
: car to concentrate their efforts on thu
: forward platform - possibly becaus
! there they could be near the engine
victory was in the hands of the fright
: ened group who afterward supportet
: me. But they had no one with sufi
cient pluck or plan to fuse ttem ant
put them in action.
= My exploit was not long in reachin,
+ the general manager of the road, and
q received an invitation from the presi
e dent to visit him there. found my
: self on my arrival anz object Of cur
e osity, the employees craning thei
q necks to get look at me. When
reached the presidents Office he GRASP
e ed my hand and asked me to be seated
l. When we were alone he said:
/ what can l do for your m
q Il don't know" ..z>z s-
" leave it to me. We have need o
It such men as you on this road and w
l. want you. If you like, will educat
d you to fill any position we have
That's exactly what would ask,
q replied.
L "But to do that you must begin q