Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-04
ROBBERS AND nuapEaess.



Last Saturday morning, about 3 O'Clock,
at Coolidge, just .as the conductor gave the
engineer the word to pull out, . man board.
ed the express car 1t the side-door. The
express messenger describes II - follows:
was lying on some boxes to the LEFT Of the
door. The robber fred at me, when he saw
where was, and the ball just missed ny
head. My hands were folded across nv
breast as I slept. When the robber fred, ]
dropped my hands to the len side OF MI
body, and reached my revolver. Then the
robber turned and started toward the bach
part of the. The baggageman was here, but
succeeded in jumping from the train. When
the robber turned his back, jumped W
and pulled my revolver. When he saw THU
he also drew his revolver and when he WA
bringing it down to shoot, it went OF, the
ball passing through the roof Of the car
Then l fired, and as we could not find where
the bullet lodged, it is supposed that the
ball took effect. The robber then jumped
from the car. At the same time another
man attempted to enter the car from the
other side. succeeded in barricsdinx the
doors with boxes, not knowing how many
there were in the attacking band. While
this tragedy was going on, smother robber
boarded the engine and confronting the en-.
ginerr, MIR. Hilton, said: '.Pull out, you
s-of b" Hilton cropped his hands
from the throttle, and as be did this his a.
sailant fired, the ball entering his heart. He
fell from his post Of duty, dead. The fire.
man, Fade, Immediately jumped from the
cab window, and as he did 90, he was shot
in the back of the neck. He did not die
Immediately, but . few hours afterward
passed away. When the robber jumped
onto the express car the conductor, who
was on the platform, demanded OF him what
be was doing. His only reply was pistol
shot, which barely missed him. As It was
his face was badly powder.burnt. There
was great excitement among the passen-
gers. and it was some time before any one
could be induced to 60 near the bodies OF
the engineer and fireman. Hilton's remains
were brought to Dodge City. A large pos.
Sc of citizens headed by Mysterious Dave"
soon started from this place in pursuit. The
robber VINO came into the express car was
man with black beard, but Il
is supposed that this was false. These men
had been noticed about Coolidge during the
day previous.
Nothing was secured by the robbers, al
though the safe in the express car contained
$50, 900.
A late dispatch announces the arrest OF
two men. one Of whom Is supposed to have
fired ut Patterson. The robber is about i've
feet ten inches tall, stopped shoulders, and
has long, thin nose. 1t is believed that
he can be identified.
The remains of Hilton were taken to Mil.
waukee Sunday for interment. He lived at
Dodge City, where be had wife and four
children. His wife is unconscious. Fiji.
teen hundred dollars reward 10 offered for
the arrest of the parties.
Journals Las Vegas, New Mexico, spe.
cial says: A prominent railroad man of this
city, speaking Of the Coolidge affair, said
to-day that he believed that the trio OF rob-
bers went from New Mexico to do the Job.
There are four in the gang altogether, he
said, and they went east only few days
ago. The original design was to take the
train on New Mexican soil, but the divis.
ion superintendent was apprised of the in.
tended attack and took precautionary meas
nres, which defeated the object Of the gang
and sent them to Kansas.
Dave Matthews, known as mysterious
Dave" who is leading the pursuit, was for
nerly OF Las Vegas, and ferretted out the
gangs which robbed the trains here in No
rember, 1879.