Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-10-11
BOLD BANDITS.
They Attempt 10 Rob a Train hut Are
RepuIsed. The Engineer Killed and
Fireman and Express Messengers
wounded.

Reputseu IHe Engineer niileu anu
Fireman and Express Messengers
wounded
A dispatch from Dodge City Kas.,
of Sept 29th says
The 'cannonball'' train, east bound,
on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe Railroad was attacked at Coolidge
bv a large gang of cowboys this
morning. John Hilton, the engineer,
was killed, and the fireman was
so badly injured that he will die. The
express was attacked, but the mes
sengers repulsed them. A posse of
men is now in hot pursuit Of the rob
beers. and a desperate battle Will no
doubt ensue when they are overhaul
ed. The robbers got no money.
The Evening Star, of Dodge City,
Kan. says the body of John Hilton,
the engineer killed in the attempted
robbing at Coolidge, was brought
here this morning, and the coroner
inquest IS now being held. Hilton
leaves a wife and four children, who
reside here. The wife IS unconscious,
as the result of the terrible shock.
Deputy Sheritfs Mather Nelson,
Carey, Bill Coombs, and others went
from here in a special tram and are
now in pursuit. The robbers are
heavily armed and viii, no doubt re-
sist arrest. Parties on the train say
they can identify the bandits if
caught. Fodle the fireman, was shot
IN the mouth, the ball coming out
behind the jaw, making most pain
full wound The train was IN charge
of Conductor Creole Hiltons body
VIII tomorrow Resent to Milwaukee,
Wis. his old home.
Superintendent Patch, of the Wells
and Fargo Express, received a dis
patch from messenger Peterson con
firming the story as already sent. lie
exchanged about fifteen shots with
the robbers and drove them off. He
was slightly wounded himself. They
obtained no booty.
THE POSTAL CLERKS STORY.
The Santa Fe train which was at
tackled at Coolidge, at o'clock this
morning, arrived here tonight
Statements of the affair by people on
the train differ considerably from the
brief account received by telegraph,
owing to darkness and the fact so few
people were about, it is difficult to
learn the exact history of the occur
renee. 1t is known that two robbers
engaged in the fight, and it is gener-
ally believed that there was a third in
the party. G. G. James, the postal
clerk, tells the following story The
train had stopped at the station and
the conductor had just signaled to
start, when a man with a drawn re-
volver climbed on the engine and Or
dered the engineer to surrender. a
scufile ensued. Meanwhile a man
opened the door of the express car,
Stumbling as he entered. He at once
opened fire ON the messenger, who
crouched behind a box. The robber
fred four times, and the messenger
returned the fire, when the former re-
treated from the car. just as the ire
man. who had left the engine, was
crossing the platform the robber fired,
and Fade. the fireman, fell senseless,
with a bullet through his neck.
Meantime the first robber, who had
been forced backward by the engl-
neer fell dead, shot through the head.
James, nearing the Hflng, hau gone
TO the door of his car and witnessed
the attack on the express car. BY tins
time the people had come out OF the
train and the robbers had disappeared.
S. S. Peterson. the messenger, who're
sides here, told about the same story
as James. He declined to say how
much money was on the express car.
Everybody seemed dazed by the shoot
ing, and it was some time before pur-
suit was organized Ii is thought that
the assailants We're somewhat under
the influence of liquor, and the plan
miscarried. Two strangers We're seen
about the platform before the train
arrived. AS a curious coincident it is
related the train was attacked few
miles west of Coolidge, across the line
in Colorado, just one year ago to-
night, ana the Wells, Fargo Express
safe robbed.