Year: 1876

THE TRAIN ROBBERY.


A Young Lady's Experience The Fun


ny Side of the Affair.


From the Jefferson City (Mo.) Tribune.


"After leaving Otterville," said
Miss Peabody, 81 was doing in re-
cllning chair-probably fast falling
asleep. Suddenly the train was
brought to halt, and moment
later man rushed hurredly through
the car believe he was the ex-
press 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 a., was commotion
and confusion. Including myself
there were three ladies in the car
l confess that | was terribly fright
ened, and thought I should faint,
but"-and Miss Christine laughed at
the rcmcmbrance-"I saw that there
was no one handy to catch or care
for person in a faint, and conclud-
ed to omit that part of the pro-
gramme. Meanwhile shots were be-
ing fired on the outside, and we
could hear numbers of men cursing
and swearing. I suppose the shots
were fired for the purpose of intimi-
datlon. l believe our car was next to
the smoking-car. Directly the door
was opened 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 I suppose,
now, they wanted him to indentify
the express messenger. 1t was rare
fun-I mean it is 1musing to look
at it now, nothing funny in it then
to see the passengers conccaling
their valuables. Here you would
see man with his boots off cram
ming his greenbacks in his socks
several-Mr. Marshall, of Fulton,
among the numbcr-tossed their
cash, watch 5, ETC., into a coal box
others were up on the back of seats
hunting holes for their pocket-books.
Wherever anything could be con-
cealed something was sure to find its
way. The conductor, excited and
nervous, hurriedly passed through,
and told all who had valuables to
take care of them. The most ludi-
crous incident | can now recall was
when sanctlmonious looking indi-
vidual, evidently scared almost out
of his wits, broke forth with the old
familiar song, Pm going home to die
no more His quiverlng, doleful
voice echoed through the car with
lugubrious effect. Some of the male
passengers were ungallant 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 follow
er of the Lord for ever so many
ycars-that he was true and con-
sistent member of the church-that
he had never wronged fellow being,
but that if he was doomed to be muir
dered he wanted his remains forward
ed 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 pound
ing away at the ADAMS Express safe,
and their coarse + and impreca-
tons atbeing delayed. Occasionally
shots were fired. The leader of the
robbers, a tall, fine looking man, ac-
companied by one OF his comrades,
passed through the car. you need
not be hiding your money! said the
leader, we do not intend to disturb
you He wore red handkerchief
over his face, with holes cut for the
eyes and mouth. Below the hand
kerchief appeared the beard--very
long, but probably false. His COM
panion was a smaller and rougher
looking man. His-1n.sk was simply
white andkerchief tied over the
lower portion of his face. The up
per part was plainly visible. He re-
marked that we must consider them
an awful set Of reprobates.


"The inquiry for arms showed
three pistols in our car One of these
was owned by a lady. Throughout
the whole affair she remained perfect
ly cool and collected, and refused 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 en-
gagged in such disreputable business.


"The newsboy had a pistol and
made his V " to the front platform.
Looking up the bluff he deserted the
figure of man and fired. In an in
slant the shot was returned. The
ball passed between the plucky news
boy and a gentleman who was also
on the platform, and both of them
sought shelter without ceremony
Thinking that the robbers might fire
through the windows, I got off the
chair and took a position on the
floor. The sanctimonious New Y ork-
er who was going away to die no
more, thinking, doubtless, that was
engaged in prayer. softly approached
and asked if was prepared to die?
| was not in a humor to enlighten
him upon the subject.


"We were detained about an hour,
when the robbers, having accomplish
ed their purpose, gave us permission
to proceed. 1t was one of the cpl
sodes Of my lite never shall forget"


AS memcnto of that eventful
night she has fragment of the Ad-
ans safe.


How Chinaman Bought a Horse


From the Cleveland Leader


Wan Lee had long wanted horse