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Daring Highwaymen

Daring Highwaymen image
Parent Issue
Day
23
Month
August
Year
1878
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

THe down tram on me .nansas uity, St. Toe nud Oonncil Bluffs railroad arrived at Winthrop a little behiud time, and aftel the usual halfc for the purpose of reeeiving Atehison business the train was baekrd down. The conductor was then at the rear of the tr:t:n, and hc observed four men enter and tako Beats in the smoking-car. As soon ns the train began banking he hurried forward to sprak to the engineer, wlio was a new man, and teil him not to stop at the junction on repassing it. Having done this he returued to take np the inres. As lie closed the door of the expresa car and prepared to step across to the smoking-car, he found himself oonfronted by the muzzles of thrce 'ked revolvers, and the determiued faces of as many men standing on tke platform of the smoking-car. No time for retreat or reflection was giveu by the owners of the revolvers. " Hold np your hands I" was the imrïediate greeting which he reoeived froin the one in advanoe, given in a harsh bnt low voice and accompanied by an aggressive forwurd movement, which showed that they intended to permit no trifliug. Brown held up his hands, and held them up without any unnecessary delay. The leader was over six feet in height, heavy built, probably weighing nearly two hundred pounde, and the conductor perceived that to make sny resistance would make raatters only worse. The next command was equally brief and equally to the point : "Turn round! Now open the door !" The conductor opened the door, entered the car, and the party followed him inside. The. brakeman and expresa messenger were within and were instantly covered by the revolvers of the two men who had not spoken, the tall man still giving his individual attention to the conductor. The robbers were alert and determined and held every advantage. The chance of aid from the engine or smoking car was almost no chance at all. Even the sound of a shot would have remained almost unnoticed, for the train wasnow running toward Kansas City at the rate of thirty miles an hour. The time had come for the fourth robber to play his part, and he now entered. Like his compaaions he carriedin his hand a eocked revolver, and wore a slonohed hat wluch partly hid his features. The eustoniary disguise of a mask appears to have been thought unnecessary. No time was lost by the last arrival in proceeding with his especial work. With rapid and dexterous fingers No. 4 examined all that he considered of valne. The inspection occupied less than five minutes, but when he aróse to his feet ho was the richer by about $0,000 in ourrency. No attempt was made to molest the persons of the three prisoners olher than in keeping them wel! covered with the re - v lvers. Despite their watchfulness Mr. Bcown contrived to draw his wallet f om his pocket and throw it without detection from the window. The leader now took command. " Stop the train !" was all he said, but he again looked at the conductor in a very business-1 kí way, and the conductor pnlled the cord, and the train stopped still. Covering the occupants cf the car with their weapons, the men now backed quietly to the door, ordered the conductor out on the platform, descended, gave one more order: "Now go ahead !" and asit was obeyed vanished in the darkuess. The whole affair had occupied but little more than five minutes, and the train was detained less than two. Bome of the passengers in the smokiug-car had seen the meeting of the conductor with the men on the platform, and had supposed that they were trampa and that the train had stopped to put them off. The engineer did not even suspect anything to be wronff.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus