HOW I SAVED THE BULLION CAR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2289, 12 March 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOW I SAVED THE BULLION CAR.

AN AMERICAN TALE

It was a glorious spring morning, with just a touch of frost. The air was so clear and bright that we could see every pane of glass, glistening in the tall terraces at Clifton, and each crevice in St. Vincent's Rocks, yet I could hardly look at them for the mist that somehow filled my eyes ! I felt relieved when the windings of the river began to conceal the familiar objects from my view. I have seen many of the great ports in the world since them—the marshy banks of the Thames estuary—the mist-fringed borders of the Mersey—but none can compare for picturesque beauty with the gorge of the Avon ! And the thought rose bitterly that day into my mind—Shall I ever see those rocks again!

But who was " I," you ask ? Not, as Tennyson says, '' a selfish uncle's trampled ward," for no one could be kinder than my good old uncle was to me, his orphan relative. Good, kind man, with what an anxious look, when he came back from his office on the Welsh-back, he would glance round at the crowded tea-table, as if wondering how the needful bread and butter could bo supplied ! And there was I, just 18, and yet earning nothingdoing nothing—with no profession in view—lazy, and good-for-nothing! One friend suggested medicine, but an hour's work at rolling out pills sickened me of doctoring. I tried an office for a week, but felt suffocated for want of fresh air. I went into a bank for a month, but the thought that seeing so much money lying about, made me feel covetous, so I ga.ve.that up. But I think cousin Flossie coming home from school brought things to a crisis. Ah, I wish you could haveseen what little Flossie's eyes looked like when she was seventeen! But, to cut my story short, a sudden energy seized me. I talked of goldfields in the Rocky Mountains ; I discussed prairie farming iu the Far West; I made bold statements as to what might be done by youth and pluck in distant lands ; I sneered at the quiet industry and slow pursuits of English commerce, and I started off for America.

As we dropped down the Avon, my high spirits began to sink ! I felt a little of the difficulty of whistling " Cheer, boys, cheer," when I would have enjoyed " a good cry," as the girls say; and when at length 40 miles down channel I lost sight of the very faintest trace of Dundry Tower, I turned into my berth, and tried to dream of a golden future !

Arrived in " the States," I soon saw that the eastern cities were as overcrowded as Europe, whilst money dissolved far faster. So I soon followed "the course "of the westering sun." I must pass over uninteresting details till my arrival at Lincolnsville, one of the many places of that name. By this time we had left far behind the giant cities of the Eastern States. The towns were shabby conglomerations of wood sheds and unfinished brick edifices, and low shanties took the places of the palatial hotels of New York and Chicago. Leaving my large trunk at the railway depot with directions that it -was to be forwarded next morning by an early train, and arranging for its being placed in the baggage-cars without my looking after it personally, I found my way to a rough kind of inn for the night. Here I slept, and not only slept, but slept too well, for on rousing myself next morning I had only a few minutes to dress, snatch a crust of bread, pay my bill, and rush to the station. The train was on the point of starting, and unluckily for me there was a State election, or something of the kind, at a neighbouring town. The cars wore packed and crammed with an excited crowd of yelling, swearing, spitting, smoking citizens, who were far too excited to give any help to a stranger; twice I ran the whole length of the train in vain seeking a seat, or even standing room—and no one would take the slightest notice of me. At the last moment, however, when I was almost in dispair—and the more anxious because I knew my portmanteau, with my few possessions, was " oil board"—a goodnatured voice hailed me, and a strong hand pulled me on to the platform of the engine. I found the driver of the trainjwas an Englishman, whose kindness was called forth by his suspecting me to be from his country. He took me under his protection —told people, with a wink, that I was his cousin, to whom he had given a lift on the engine. He listened with much interest to what I could tell him of late news from " the old country." In return he discoursed on American matters, the prospects of the Par West, and the difference between things English and Yankeo, illustrating his talk by pointing out to me how the American engines, with their " bogie frames" and cow-catch-ers, differed from those on the Great Western—on which line he had once worked —and explained to the whole system of the engine he was then driving good-naturedly permitting me to amuse myself by stopping and starting the locomotive at the frequent stations. I parted with him at a place called Three Pines, in the afternoon, it being then his duty to start on his return run, and with a hearty grasp of the hand he left me to pursue my journey, feeling more lonely than before!

All that clay we travelled westthrough wide plains, only bounded by distant blue mountains ; but whether it was the heat of the day, or the hurried start without breakfast. I know not, but the evening found me suffering from a frightful headache. There are various species of headaches—the weary kind of pain across the brow under which you can still work, though with difficulty, and various other stages, until you come to that distressing form in which you feel as if your head was filled with molten lead, and you can do nothing more than lie groaning in a dark room in the utmost wretchedness ! This was the kind under which I suffered, and feeling utterly unable for any further travelling, I left the cars at the next station—a small place called Jacksonville. It was a povertystriken place, chiefly composed of several unfinished meeting-houses and numerous low whisky stores, calling themselves by grand names—"The Washington hotel," " The New York bar," &c. But, longing for quiet and shade, I sought the nearest inn, and, getting a room, I closed the shutters and threw myself on the bed. Just as I left the railway depot, a sudden gust brought a paper from one of the station-house windows fluttering to my feet. I picked it up, but my head was aching so much that I thrust it into my pocket without looking at it. My headache at last yielded a little to darkness and a wet towel, and I fell into an uneasy sleep, from which I was awakened by a commotion in the next room. Only a thin boarding divided the apartments, and the speakers were probably unaware of my proxmity, but still they spoke very low. and unwilling as I was to listen to anything, by that strange paradox which affects one when ill, I could not help straining my attention to catch, what they said, though it made my brain ache even more. The first words I caught were, " Where is the job to bo done?" " At Neckinger's Shelf," said a gruff voice in answer. " Have you squared ' Knowing Jim r'' " " Yes," was tho reply; "the captain has made all straight, keys and all !" " Why is there so much going up?" said the other speaker. To pay the garrison at Fort Musquod and tho half-breeds and Redskins their pensions," was the reply, At

this moment a cough seized me, and in stantly all talking seized.

After a night's rest, I woke up all right, swallowed a rough breakfast, and started for the train. As I was paying my bill, I pulled out the paper which I had picked up the night before, and glanced at it as a matter of curiosity. It was merely an official railway paper—one of those sent irom head offices to the stationmaster—and ran to the effect "That on the day mentioned within (which was that very morning), the U.S. Government would require the station authorities to Jacksonville to forward a bullion waggon, which was to arrive there, and to provide a travelling car and accommodation for six soldiers, and an officer in charge of the said waggon on its way west. The paper had evidently blown out of the station offices, and did not seem of any importance; but still I was interested to notice that when the through train came up from the eastern stations it had at the end of the train a car only occupied by a few soldiers, who looked tired and very thirsty, and behind it a closed black baggage car, marked with the Government initials, and which I at once recognised as the bullion waggon mentioned in the way-bill; but it was none of my business. So I jumped into a car, and proceeded on my journoy. " What place is this ?" I asked a neighbouring passenger. "Indian Rock," he answered, "we are now getting right amongst the mountains." "And where does the train stop next P" "Not," said he, for a long run. It is nothing but rocks and stones, and the line runs along the very edge of the river at a place called The Devil's Neckinger—that is, neck in danger!" I startled at this name. What was coming ?

The line began to ascend amongst the hills. The valley grew narrower and narrower. The cliffs ran high above us, and the track was skilfully engineered, though on a steep gradient, between the rocks and the river, as a kind of overhanging shelf —having the cliffs on one side close to the windows of the cars, and on the other side but a very narrow space between the outer rail and the edge of the precipitous bank of the river. Just then the engine gave a sharp whistle and pulled up short. This was followed by the report of a revolver. I thrust my head out of the window and saw that the line in front was blocked. Looking out the other way, to my surprise I saw the last car behind the bullion waggon separating from the standing train and beginning rapidly to recede down the long, steep gradient up which we had climbed ! I had only just pulled back my head to listen to the babel of inquiry and talk in the car, when a couple of men with blackened faces, and holding outstretched revolvers, appeared at the end doors. They sternly ordered the terrified women and children into one of the cars, and, calling up the male passengers, who were few in number, and who were also too surprised to make any resistance, they quickly tied our hands together, using our own handkerchiefs, and, taking from us our pistols and knives, with fierce orders to us not to move, they left the car, locking the doors. I suppose they dealt similarly with the passengers in the other two cars.

You will think it strange that the passengers made no resistance, but the men were almost all German emigrants, very stupid and apathetic, who seemed to think the Government treasure—its safety or robbers—was none of their concern, and were too much alarmed for themselves to make auy noise. The women cried silently. The men muttered oaths, and said there were only a dozen or so of the ruffians in this gang, but still did not seem to dare to do or propose anything.

The whole scheme struck me now as clear. The train had been stopped at this lonely spot to rob the bullion waggon ; the car which came next, and contained the guard of military, had been skilfully unhitched from the train, and had therefore run backwards down the incline by its own momentum, which on such a gradient would carry it several miles; and doubtless by arrangement "Knowing Jim" could get the doors of the treasure waggon to open ! I saw now all the links in the chain fitted ; but what could I, helpless and bound, do in the matter ! I looked round me, however, determined to find some expedient. A broken window near me caught my eye. Oue of our captors had carelessly smashed it with his revolver, as if in mere love of destruction! The edge of the fractured glass was angular and sharp. I twisted my hands round .so as to get the bandage on the edge of the broken glass, and sawed away at the texture with all my force. It was as keen-edged as a knife. In a few moments my hands were free. Tolling those near me that I would reconnoitre the state of affairs, and disregarding the well-meant advice that these marauders would shoot ine without hesitation, I contrived to slip through the window of the car on the side next the aliff, and crawling along the ground under the carriages, I looked round mo. Tho engine stood motionless, but with steam on. A little way off the stoker sat, bound hand and foot, on the bank. The driver lay beside him groaning, and apparently had been shot through the arm. A short distance before the locomotive the track was barricaded by two or three fir-trees, which had been felled so as to lie across it. Retracing my steps very quietly, I crept to the other end of the train. As I expected, " Knowing Jim," by false keys or otherwise, had got the folding doors of the bullion waggon open. Six or seven of the robbers were inside ; four were carrying a heavy chest to a point a short distance off on the bank, where two others were adjusting a kind of rough pulley. Evidently a boat was moored in the river below to receive the stolen specie ! The doors stood wide open, but I guessed that they were of the usual plan—made to fasten with a snap-catch aud swing bar. Cautiously stretching out my baud under the carriage floor, I pulled one leaf of the heavy iron plated dojrs towards the carriage. " Cuss that wind," I heard one of the men inside say. " Shall I push it open ?" " Never mind the wind, you fool," a voice replied. "Try and find which are the boxes with the gold."

Now was my moment for action. With an aspiration to Heaven for success. I darted out from amongst the wheels, pushed to and banged together the doors with all my force, swung round the swinging bar into its catch, and rushed back again round the cliff side of the train. Now was my time to make good use of my teaching which my friend the English engine-driver had given me in his art, I sprung on the locomotive, with one hand reversed the engine, and with the other turned on the full power of the steam. An instant more served to release the brake-power, and with a deep sob, as of sympathy, the piston-rods began to work, the wheels to revolve, and the train to move ; but my crisis of greatest danger had arrived. The men who were slinging the chest on the bank turned round—happily for mo, the heavy box was just being lowered, and they could not leave it without its falling headlong into the river or injuring the boat. Thus I secured u few instants to conceal myself behind the wood-pile, and to arm myself with a rod-hot fire-rake, with which I kept at bay the foremost assilant, who ran up trying to loap on tho engine— meanwhile a shower of bullets from the ruffians' revolvers whizzed round the

engine—but we were now mo ting faster and faster. The robbers could up longer keep up with us over the rough track, made difficult by the deep depressions between the sleepers. The steep gradient immediately told in our favour, and I hardly felt safe from the danger of being shot, when I began to realise the peril of riding on a runaway train. Along the sharp curves we rushed at headlong speed, now overhanging the river now seeming to graze the rocks, I never thought we could keep on the track, and I began to think I should cause the death or multilation of all my imprisoned fellowpassengers. Neekinger's Shelf was now several miles behind us, and I thought I might venture ta put on the brake, so as to reduce the speed, and so I turned oft' the steam and felt my heart throb less heavily as the speed gradually abated, and we found ourselves at the base of the gradient ; and when moving slowly and approaching Indian Rock Station, by the exercise of all the little engine-driving skill I possessed, J. pulled up just as we were reaching the runaway car which the robbers had unhitched, and which was now standing still on the line. The guard had just got out, and looked somewhat puzzled and confused, whilst the rattle of the cars having ceased, we could hear the imprisoned robbers firing their revolvers at the locks of the bullion car !

"Gentlemen," said I loaning over the side of the locomotive, grimed and black with heat and dirt, " I have brought you back the bullion-wagon, with some inside passengers !" A hurried council of war was held. The soldiers fixed their bayonets. The station officials appeared with rifles and revolvers. The emigrant passengers who were now unbound grew bold and flourished sticks, knives, and pistols. At last, negotiations opened with the gang through the ventilators, they, feeling from the noise and uproar that they were helpless, " caved in," and being let out one by one, where safely secured, their weapons removed, and they themselves locked up under strict surveillance at the depot ; whilst the officers and soldiers set out to look for the rest of the band, with) their boat and booty, that they had secured. As might have been expected, ruffians had decamped with what they could get; but they rescued the wounded driver and freed his stoker, and brought back an empty chest!

I was for the moment quite the hero of the transaction! The Judge of the neighbourhood came down to take my evidence. The local editor " interviewed" me, and " the citizens " of " Indian Rock city" offered me any amount of " liquor ups," " brandy smashes," and other tokens of goodwill. My self-satisfaction was, however, much lessened by hearing someone in the crowd whisper right into my ear, "You meddling fool; you shall pay for this "—a sentiment which I fancied must proceed from " Knowing Jim," or some confidant or sympathiser connected with the railway line. I determined to retrace my steps, alter my intended route, and settle in a different State. Meanwhile I obtained from " the Judge." the station-master, and other officials a formal statement of my services. " The Judge" was very warm friend to me. By his advice I journeyed to Washington, interviewed a cousin of his, a rising politician with a good deal of influence, and asiced for a reward —not in the shape of money, an article which statesmen object to part with—but for a grant of land on one of the Transcontinental railways, which would cost them nothing. I was successful under the Yankee guidance, and one day (a few weeks after) I received two official documents—one from " The Indian Rock Snake River and Chocklaw Mountain Railway Company," censuring me for riding on one of the company's locomotives without a regular pass ! The other announcing from the Government the grant of a front block of 1000 acres on the Grand North-Western Rocky Mountati Line !! What followed is very common-place. I worked hard from morning till night. I got the partnership of some worthy fellows ; we ploughed and sowed, and things prospered. We built at a picturesque spot at first a shanty, but afterwards an ornamental cottage, which got the name far and near of "The Villa." Before it runs a swift river, behind stand a dozen or two primeval trees. The railway supplies distant whistlings, to remind us of the world being within reach ! W. H.vrdmax, L.L.D.