The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-10-04
TRAIN ROBBERY.
The Engineer Refuses to Stop when
Ordered and IS Shot Dead.

Ordered and IS Shot Dead.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. ga PoSt-Dis
patch's Kansas City special says: This
morning shortly before 3 O'Clock the
"Thunderbolt" passenger train OF the
Atchison, Topeka 81 Santa Fe rail
road train was boarded by Il band OF
twelve masked men at Coolidge, Kan.
and Wells, Fargo 81 Co.'S safe robbed
The engineer refusing to stop the
TT lin when ordered was instantly
killed; the fireman and brakemen
were badly wounded, as was also the
to ascertain the amount of booty OBJ
tanned. The robbery creates most in
tense excitement in Kansas City.
when it was thought that with the
breaking up of the James gang, that
train robbing in the West would be
forever ended. Coolidge, where the
robbery was committed, is small sta
ton on the Atchison, Topeka 81 Santa
Fe railroad, 1856 miles west of Kansas
City, and with the exception of Il tel
egraph operator, is almost uninhab-
tied. Armed forces have been sent
out from Emporia, Topeka, Dodge
City and other points to pursue and
capture or kill the robbers.
Later s. Peterson, the express
messenger, is not hurt. The robbers
got no money.
Later.-As the train pulled out
from Coolidge three men appeared
and ordered the engineer to stop. He
refused and was instantly shot dead.
The fireman was also shot through
the breast and badly hurt, though not
fatally. The men then entered the
express car, but Samuel Peterson, the
express messenger, was prepared for
them and made such vigorous fight
that the robbers were driven off.
Finding the train aroused and them
selves likely to be worSted, they then
beat retreat, having failed to secure
the treasure they were after. Infor-
nation was at once telegraphed to the
stations along the line and a special
train started for Coolidge from En-
pOria with posse Of armed men in
pursuit. The dead engineer, who was
named John Hilton, lived at Empo-
ria, his run being between that place
and Dodge City.
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 20.-Thc Eve
ming Stars Dodge City saying tiat the
body of John Hilton, the engineer
killed in the attempted robbery at
Coolidge, will be brought here is er-
roneouS. An inquest is being held.
Hilton leaves Il wife ana four
children, who reside here. The wife
is Unconscious as result of the shock.
Deputy Sheriffs Mathers, Nelson,
Carr, Bill Combs and others went
from here in special trian and are
now i'll PeISuit. The robbers are
heavily armed ard will no doubt re-
sist arrest. Parties on the train say
they can be identified if caught.
Todle, the fireman, was shot in the
mouth, the ball coming out behind the
jaw, making a most painful wound.
The train was in charge Of Conductor
Greedy.
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 29.-The Santa
Fe train which was attacked at Cool
edge at o'clock this morning, ar
rived here tonight. Statements OF
the affair by the people on the train
differ considerably from the rief ac-
count received by telegraph. Owing
to the darkness and the fact that so
few people were about, it is difficult
currence. 1t is known that two rob-
generally believed there WAS a third
clerk tells the following
story: The train had stopped at the
station and the conductor had just
signalled to start when man,
with drawn revolver, climbed on
the engine and ordered the engineer
to surrender. A scutfie ensued. In
the meanwhile man opened the door
of the express car, stumbling as he
entered. He at once opened fire on
the messenger, who crouched behind
the robbers fire four times, and the
messenger returned the fire, when the
former Ietreated from the car just us
the fireman, had left the crossing
platform. The robber fired and fled.
The fremen fell senseless, with a bull
let through his neck. In the mean
while the first robber who had been
found backward by the engineer, fell
dead, shot through the head. James,
hearing the firing, had gone to the
door of his Car and witnessed the at
tack on the express car. BY this time
the people had come out of the train
and the robbers had disappeared.
Only one or two persons witnessed
the shooting. S. S. Patterson, mes
senger, who resides here, told about
the same story as James. He declined
to say how much money was in each
express car. Everybody seemed
daiZed by the shooting, and it was
some time before pursuit was or
ganized. One theory Of the affair is
that the robbers had accomplices fur
ther down the road, and their inten-
ton was to run the train a short dis
lance and stop. but their assistants
were somewhat under the influence of
liquor, and their plan was miscarried.
Several strangers were seen about
the platform before the train.