The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-04
ATTEMPTED TRAIN ROBBERY.

A daring but unsuccessful attempt
was made to rob the east-bound express
train on the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe Railroad at Coolidge station, at an
early hour on Saturday morning, Sept. %.
The attack was made by three men, two
boarding the engine while the third entered
the express car and made futile attempt
to kill the messenger and rob the safe. The
two men who jumped upon the engine held
drawn revolvers in their hands, and seeing
the engineer, John Fl. Hilton, with his hand
upon the throttle, called upon him to pull
out quick" Instead of doing this Hilton
pushed the lever clear over, when one Of
the men shot him dead, the bullet passing
through his heart. At the same time the
second man shot George Fade, the fireman,
through the back, Fadle falling from the
platform, while the dead body of Hilton
remained in the cab. The third robber en-
tered the express car and began firing at >.
S. Peterson, messenger for Wells, Fargo &
Co.'s express.
STATEMENT OF THE EXPRESS MESSENGER.
The following account of the attempted
robbery of the express car was given by
Mr.. Samuel S. Peterson, the messenger, to
Kansas City Times reporter:
"You are of course aware that the raid took
place at Coolidge, a station on the line of the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, about
ten miles east of the Colorado State line, be-
tween 2 and o'clock Saturday morning.
There is an eating-house in the station and the
train stopped there as usual twenty minutes,
in order to give passengers an opportunity to
get lunch. The train was No. 4, bound east,
Conductor Greeley, Engineer John Hilton,
Fireman Fade and Baggageman johnson.
"When the train stopped" continued Mr..
Peterson, II put off some railroad mail which
l had, and there being no express to put off and
no further work for me to do L lay down on
my box, just in front of the front side door on
the side of the car next to the depot. After ly-
ing down for Il few minutes dropped off into
a doze. was lying on my back. with my arms
folded over my bosom. Both of the doors on
the side of the car next to the platform were
open, Baggageman Johnson being seated in
the back side door, looking out on the plat
form. My revolver, Colts 4l-caliber, double
action, lay at my side. / mad taken it out Of
my scabbard and laid it down that might be
readysfor any emergency that might arise.
The pistol lay where could easily lay hands
upon it.
''It was about time for the train to start
when heard the words, Come out of there,
you -. This woke me up, and / after
wards learned that the remark was made by
Conductor Greeley to man whom he noticed
getting into the car.
when L awOke l naturally glanced down
the car, and saw standing within four feet
of me man with pistol i'll his hand was
lying with my head toward the front of the
car, and the man was standing near my feet.
/ did not say word; in fact L did not have
time to speak before he covered Inc with the
revolver and fired. The bullet went over my
head and could feel the fire burning over my
face. The man then fired a shot out of the
doorway at the conductor. Fortunately l was
completely Self-pOSSeSsSed, and when he fired
i realized that a train robbery was going on.
With the hope of making the rObber believe
that he had killed me / unclaSped my hands
which were folded on my bosom, and allowed
them to fall at my side. My right hand fell
on the muZZle of my revolver, and realizing
that it would never do to allow the rObber to
see that 1 was about to defend myself. 1
worked my hand slowly into position, until
had hold of the pistol with my finger on the
trigger. The rObber did not notice this man
euver because it was quite dark in that part of
the car where lay. Meantime the man was
working his way toward the rear of the car,
evidently suppOsing that he had finished me,
and intending to kill the baggageman or any
one else who got in his way. As soon as got
hold OF my pistol / sprang into a sitting pos
ture and fired at the rObber. l jumped up
then and walked toward the man. He raised
his revolver as if to shoot again, but it went
off prematurely, the ball striking the roof of
the car. When | shot at him part of his body
was behind q stove. / aimed at his abdomen
and believe that my bail took effect. About
this time / saw another man, who proved to
be the pal of the first, trying to climb in at
the side door. No sooner had fired, however,
than he disappeared, and the man l shot at
jumped out on the platform from the rear
side door. That was the last l saw of the rob-
bers. / calculated that they would come up
to the front side door of the car, and seiZing
some freight barricaded the door so as to
protect myself and the property which had
been entrusted to my care.
LESS than half minute after the robbers
left my car heard some shots at the engine
Three shots were fired in half as many minutes.
| stood at the front side door of my car, revOl-
yer in hand. Just then Conductor Greeley
came up. Have they gomez / asked. Yes,
| think So replied he, but / believe our en-
gineer and fireman are hurt Then Greeley
went forward to them, and coming back to me
said: They are both killed The engineer is
shot through the heart and the fireman
through the neck.
81 then jumped out on the platform and saw
the engineer and fire nan lying on the platform
and was taken into the hotel where
L talked with him few minutes. The body of
the dead engineer, poor John Hilton, was put
aboard the train and taken to Dodge.
after considerable delay we got new en-
gineer, and fireman at Coolidge and started
again on our journey, an hour and forty min
uteS late. AT CimarrOn, twenty miles distant,
we met special train from Dodge City, con-
veying to Coolidge Sheriffs posse to pursue
the robbers"
Failing in their effort to secure the treas
ure in the express car, which was obvious
ly the chief object of the raid, the robbers
took to their heels, going around in front of
the engine and disappearing in the darkness.
They made their escape to the southwest, |
iischarging their revolvers into the air in !
order to frighten any who might have the |
lardihood to pursue them
When the real state of affairs became |
known among the passengers,
,he widest excitement prevailed. Men |
we're pale with fright and women were in
ny ysterics. For some time after the raid |
lew of the passengers were bold enough to /
cave their seats, but after while, when it
became certain that all danger was passed,
hey came out and thronged the platform.
The news was Immediately telegraphed |
% Dodge City, where forces were quickly
for the pursuit, These left in
special car furnished by the railroad COM
oany.
Two men, arrested on suspicion, are John
Iooney, cowboy belonging to the Arkan-
as Valley Stock Company ranch, and
lewis Chambers, also a cowboy with Bates
Beal or the 81. X" brand. Both men
lave an exceedingly hard reputation about
rOOlidpe They were committed 70 iail at |