g the telegraph wires, and upon the arrival of the
western train took possession of it, securing sixty-five thousand
dollars from the express car, and thirteen thousand dollars and four
gold watches from the passengers,--then mounting their horses they
rode off. A reward of ten thousand dollars for their arrest
immediately followed and three of the robbers were caught and hung.
About one half of the money was recovered when they were captured. It
is said the balance of the gang were apprehended and dealt with by a
frontier Court, 'Judge Lynch' officiating, this however is tradition,
its truth not being known.

Another robbery was that committed by Sam. Bass and associates who
held up the west bound Pacific Express train securing from the express
car some sixty thousand dollars in gold. This money was all recovered
and most of the band either killed or arrested.

Another great event of this kind occurred in the hills of Wyoming,
west of Cheyenne during 1898. The first section of the Overland West
Bound carrying the mail and express was flagged and brought to a stop.
A culvert behind it blown up with dynamite to prevent the second
section interfering, and the express cars were then looted and the
robbers rode off. Persistent pursuit lasting for years, however,
brought them one by one to justice, one being killed near Kansas City
while resisting arrest, another killed at Cripple Creek under similar
circumstances.

In 1897 (January 1st) the present Company, Union Pacific Railroad
Company, was organized under the laws of Utah as successor to the
Union Pacific Railway Company.

During the construction days, Wells, Fargo and Company operated the
Express service over the line. On completion the Company organized its
own express "The Union Pacific Railroad Express" which continued to
handle the express until re-organized as the Pacific Express Company.

Congress was appealed to in 1893 to pass a refunding bill, but failed
to act.

Numerous unsuccessful attempts were made to reorganize the property,
but this was impossible with the debt to the Government in an
unsettled condition. Finally in 1899 an agreement (see foot note) as
reached between the re-organization Committee and the Attorney General
by which the line was to be foreclosed and the debt adjusted. This was
accordingly done in 1899. The account standing:

Amount due Government. From Union Pacific. From Kansas Pacific.
Principal $27,236,512.0