Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-07-23


yeggmen came to town after one of
their raiding expeditions they inva-
a satchel full OF stolen
postage stamps, which these dive
keepers disposed of for them at a
25 per cent discount.
But .On this occasion Walter and
his cronies, Kentucky Billy" and
District Of Columbia Slim" had
stretched their credit at tho bars of
the dens they frequented Until the
breaking point loomed perilously
near. They needed funds desper-
ately, and it must be "quick job"
for getaway" was imperative. One
OF the gay cats" working for this
trio had been ordered to locate" a
job in a hurry. He decided the car
barn office at Port Norfolk was
likely point, inasmuch as it's Office
safe always held a big sum Of cur
rency, and, furthermore, chances for
interruption during the safe opening
were comparatively small
town when the trio of yeggmen and
their "stickups" stole into it and
made their way to the car barn. It
was an easy matter to jimmy rear
window, and Walter was the first to
climb through to the INTERIOR Ken
tucky Billy followed him, while
Slim" remained on the outside to
see that the "stickups," or sentinels
mainta'-ed proper vigilance against
a surprise. AS Walter made his way
| through the rambling structure the
needle-like rays from his fashlight
| pointed to the forms Of three men
the night watchman and two negroes
who evidently had Joined him to keep
| him company through the long vigils
Of the night.
| II was but the work Of a second to
pounce upon the sleeping men, tie
their arms and legs and slip gags
| into their mouths. Under threats Of
Wandering them as they lay, Walter
and Billy proceeded 10 the office and
of Soup" or nitroglycerine, failed
to dislodge the door and others in
quick succession followed. AS tho
door flew from its hinges and fell
with crash to the floor, Walter
forced an inner door and was rap
idly transferring the golden hoard
that lay before him when one OF the
captive negroes slipped h1s gag and
thongs, and, leaping to a window,
cried out an alarm. AS he Clambered
mp to the sill preparatory to leaping
to the street below bullet cut short
his flight and he rolled down to the
sidewalk, shot through the chest
Emboldened by the general melee
that ensued, the other captjves
wrenched their arms free and each
drew his pistol and sent volley in
the direction of Billy and Walter, the
brief outline of whose crouching
forms was barely discernible through
the gloom Of the barn.
The shots aroused the neighbor-
hood. Before "Slim" and his "stick-
ups" could sound a note Of warning
mob had gathered and a fuSillade
OF shots was fired. First, Walter
and Billy emptied their pistols at the
two men who were firing at chem
from within the barn. After disarm-
ing them they crouched beneath the
window ledge and sent shot after
shot into the crowd that had gath
cred in the street. These shots were
returned with a vim, and a hundred
bullets crashed through the window
beneath which Walter and Billy
crouched. While Walter stuck to his
post and emptied his pistol at the
posse BILLY" reconnoitred, and
finding window on the opposite side
Of the building which afforded an
easy drop to an area or courtyard
he paved the way for flight.
Their Escape.
Returning to Walters side, the
two fired a parting volley into the
crowd, dropping eight or ten men in
their tracks, and then adjusting rags
soaked in mustard oil to the heels
OF their shoes, a precaution against
pursuit Of bloodhounds, they sped to
the open window and leaped to the
courtyard.
Their last round of cartridges had
been slipped into the chambers of
their revolVers, and these they de-
termined to hold in reserve and not
use unless actually trapped by the
now infuriated posse.
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