Year: 1876

Fuuny Side OF the Affair.


[From the jefferson City (Mo) Tribune]


':After leaving Otterville," said Miss Pea
body II was doing in a reclining chair
probably fast falling asleep. Suddenly the
train was brought to a halt, and moment
later man rushed hurriedly through the car.
| believe he was the express messenger. Some
one asked him what was the matter.


THE TRAIN Is BEING ROBBED, THAT'S WHAT'S


THE NATTER,


he hurriedly replied, and kept On. Then all
was commotion and confusion. Including
myself there were three ladies in the car.
confess that was terribly frightened, and
thought | should faint, but'-and Miss Chris
tine laughed at the remembrance-'1 Saw
that there was no one handy to catch or care
for person in faint, and concluded to
omit that part of the programme. Mean
while shots were being fired on the outside,
and we could hear numbers of men cursing
and swearing. suspose the shots were fired
for the purpose OF intimidation. | believe
our car was next to the smoking car. Directly
the door was thrown open and in stalked two
of the robbers The leader put his hand on
the shoulder of brakesman and said, here
want you,' and hustled him out. We
thought they were going to shoot him, but
suppose, now, they wanted him to indentify
the express messenger. 1t was rare fun
mean it is amusing to look back at it now,
nothing funny in it then-tO see the passen-
gers concealing their valuables. Here you
would see Il man with his boots OFT


CRAMMING HIS GREENBACKs IN HIS SOCKS
-seyeral-Mr Marshall, of Fulton, among
the number-tossed their Cash, watches, ETC.,
into coal boN-OtherS were up on the back
OF seats hunting holes for their pOcket-books.
Wherever anything could be concealed some
thing was sure to find its way. The conduc-
tor, excited and nervous, hurriedly passed
through, and told all who had valuables to
dent can now recall was when a sanctmoni-
Gus looking individual, evidently scared
almost out of his wits, broke forth with the
old familiar song, I'm going home to die no
more His quivering, dolefui voice echoed
through the car with lugubrious effect. Some
of the male passengers were ungallent enough
to interrupt him with the remark that he had
better be getting his money out of the way
instead of starting camp meeting. Having
finished the hymn he arose and gave in his
experience He stated that he had been a
follower of the Lord for ever so many years
that he was true and consistent member
of the church-that he had never wronged
q fellow being, but that if he was doomed
to be murdered he


WANTED HIS REMAINS FORWARDED


to his family in New York, and to write them
that he died true to the faith and in the hope
of glorious resurrection.


''The tumult outside continued. We could
distinctly hear them pounding away at the
Adams Express safe, and their coarse oaths
and imprecations at being delayed. Occa-
sionally shots were fired. The leader of the
robbers, tall, fine looking man, accom-
panied by one of his comrades, passed through
the car You need not be hiding your mon
ey,' said the leader, we do not intend to dis
turb YOU He wore red handkerchief over
his face, with holes cut for the eyes and
mouth. Below the handkerchief appeared
the beard-very long, but probably false.
His companion was smaller and rougher
looking man, His mask was simply white
handkerchief tied over the lower portion OF
his face The upper part was plainly visible.
He remarked that we must consider them IN


AWFUL SET OF RErRoBArEs.


'The inquiry for arms showed three pistols
in our car. One of these was owned by
lady. Throughout the whole affair she re-
mained perfectly cool and collected, and re-
fused to accommodate gentleman with the
loan of her pistol. When some one said that
this was the work Of the James boys, she
laughingly remarked that her name was
James, but she hoped none of her relatives
were engaged in such dlsreputable business.
The newsboy had pistol and made his way
to the front platform. Looking up the bluff,
he deserted the figure of man and fired. In
an instant the shot was returned. The ball
passed between the plucky newsboy and
gentleman who was also on the platform,
and both of them sought shelter without cere-
mony. Thinking that the robbers might fire
through the windows, got off the chair and
took position on the floor. The sanctimon-
ious New Yorker who was going away to die
no more, thinking, doubtless, that l was en-
gagged in prayer, softly approached and asked
if was prepared to die? was not in
humor to enlighten him upon the subject.
We were detained about an hour, when the
robbers, having accomplished their purpose,
gave US permission to proceed. 1t was one
of the episodes of my life shall never for
get


AS memento of that eventful night she
has fragment of the Adams safe.


AN .Englishman visiting Sweden, noticing
their care for neglected children, who are
taken from the streets and highways and
placed in speci,l schools, inquired it it was
not costly. He received the suggestive an