One reason for his lengthy success was that the notorious robber usually did his work alone and in a bold way. Most outlaws of his time were usually betrayed by fellow gang members or gunned down in ambushes involving family or friends. But Bill did most of his work alone and usually went his own way keeping his plans and destinations to himself. Remaining true to his solitary methods he robbed a train one night on its route north of Flomaton where the railroad passed through a long stretch of pinewoods. At one of the thickest wooded areas, Railroad Bill made his bold attack. But long before the train had arrived Bill had made some peculiar arrangements. He had worked hard to make numerous scarecrows on either side of the track and had strapped a torch to the side of each dummy.
As the train approached he woods Bill lit the torches and stood armed and ready next to the track. When the trainmen saw the torches of what looked like a surrounding force of bandits they were convinced that all was lost. With his false army standing guard on the edge of the woods, Bill robbed the whole train and then unhooked the passenger section and sent the engine on to Montgomery by itself. One night, an L&N train was held up and robbed right at the point where the railroad crossed Little Escambia River near Flomaton, Alabama. The culprit escaped on a raft that was waiting beneath the bridge over which the train had passed. Railroad Bill was supposedly seen by a fisherman who was convinced that he was the person they saw jump from the bridge. But whether it was him or not really didn’t matter because the deed would be laid at his feet anyway.
Shortly afterwards in Hurricane, Alabama an old Negro named Rafe Daniels was sitting and rocking late one evening in the door of his cabin. He noticed a figure coming toward his front gate and said, “What ya doing in my yard?” Bill replied, “I’m hungry, I want something to eat.” Rafe said, “Go on, I ain’t got nothing for you.” Bill then asked him if he knew who he was and when he shook his head no he told him he was the outlaw Railroad Bill. Rafe’s knees began to knock and he became sick to his stomach. Rafe stuttered “yes sir, yes sir, Mr. Bill, come right in. I was just joking. I got plenty to eat.” Rafe fixed up a meal and fed Bill who was soon on his way with a full stomach. Who said being a living legend didn’t pay off in the long run?
