Delta chief., 1883-10-10
The A., T. & s. F. Train from Den.
yer Attacked near Coolidge,
Kansas.
The Engineer Shot Dend and the
Fireman Probably Fatal.
ly Wounded.
Three Highwaymen Jump on Board,
But are Quickly Driven
on.

KANSAS CITY, Sept 29.-News has
been received here OF train robbery on the
Atchison, Topeka Il Santa Fe railway at or
near Coolidge, Kansas, 40 miles west of here,
about o'clock this morning Reports re-
ceived this morning were very conflicting. !,
was first stated that two men had been killed
and a large amount OF booty secured. later
dispatch, giving fuller particulars, states tha,
the engineer was killed, and the fireman
wounded but that no money was secured by
the robbers. The train was the regular east
bound passenger, which left Denver last night,
and was due here tonight.
Coolidge is n small cattle station. and aside
from the telegraph operator. is almost unin-
habted. As the train pulled out from Cool
idge three men appeared and ordered the engi-
neer 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 Assailed the express ear, but
Samuel Peterson, the express messenger, was
prepared for them, and made such vigorous
fight that the robbers were driven on.
Finding the train aroused. and themselves
likely TO be worsted, the robbers beat re
treat, having failed To secure the treasure they
were after.
KANSAS CRY, September a9-The Ets7,iag
Stars special from Dodge City SAYS: The
body Of John Hilton, the engineer Killed In the
attempted trbuEnt
here this morning and the coroncr's inquest is
now being held. Hilton leaves wife and
four children, who reside here. The wife 10
unconscious as result Of the terrible shock.
Deputy ShcriMs Mathews, Nelson. Garry, Bell.
Coombs and Others went from here ON special
train and are now In pursuit The rohhcs are
heavily armed and VIII no doubt resist arrest.
Parties on the train say they can he identified
II caught. The fireman. whose name IL Fable,
was sho, In the mouth the ball coming GU, be
hind the Jaw, making = most painful wound.
The train was In charge of Conductor Wesley.
When he heard the shooting he ran forward 10
one Of the would.br robbcr. and murdsr-rs.
His face was badly burned by powder, but he
was not wounded. He mounted the cab and
would have started the engine forward. but he-
coming frightened the robbcr. fed The In
tcntion to rob the express car, hut the
thieves did no, get that far No passengers
were hurt. Officers Of Colorado and Kansas
City are after the murdcrcrs and robbers, hack
ed by strong posse Of citizens, and II the gang
are nabbed II will 20 hard with them"
KANSAS CIrr, September sq.--The Josr,,ars
Las Vegas. New Mexico. special says: A
prominent railroad man of this city. speaking
of the Coolidge train robbery, satd to-day that
he believed the trio Of robbers went from New
Mexico to do the job. There ART four In the
gang. He -aid they went east few days ago.
and their original design wa, to take the train
on New Mexican soil. but the division .uperin-
tcndcnt wa. Appriscd Of the intended attack
and took precautionary measures which defeat
cd the object Of the gang and sent them 10
Kansas. Dave Matthews, known As "My.icri-
Gus Dave" who IL leading the pursuit,
formerly Of Las Vegas, and frrrett.d out the
gang which robbed the train here In is7p,
Fadle stated that a man jumped on the en-
ginc, and ordered Hilton to pull out. Hilton
answered that he would when he received or
dcrs, and the robbcr then shot him and fired at
Fable. The plan ws prcconcerted, the wires
having been cut east Of Coolidge since septem-
Der -, at half-past 5 O'Clock. A late dispatch
AMI ths.s fnftv ~ rh.t,,
Is supposed to have fired at Peterson. The
robber IL about i've feet ten inches tall, stopped
shouldcred and has long. thin posc. II IL be-
licvcd he can be Identified. Fifteen hundred
dollars reward IL offered for the arrest II the
parties.
DopoB CITr, KAs.. Sept 29.-Dcpu,y Sheriff
Mnthcr. In charge of the Dodge CITY posse. was
met At Coolidge by Sheriff Parsons, of Bent
county. Colorado, and they arrested two men
and brought them to this city on special train
this morning. and lodged them In jail. The
feeling IL intensely bitter here, but these men
not yet fully identified. and no step. will
be taken to svcnge Hilton's death on uncertain
ties. Another man has this evening been ar
rested At Garden City. and he will be brought
here In the morning. II IL thought that only
three were engaged In the shooting, and the
circumstantinl evidence II strong; hut bcing
masked, II Ia hard to fully recognize them.
KANSAS CIrr, Sept. 3.-T. c. Seward, tho
express messenger who follows Peterson, came
In on the Santa Fe To night In conversation
he stated that the excitement In the ncighbor-
hood Of the robbery Of yesterday morning had
subsidized somewhat, although the feeling waa
still intense, He Thought the Identification 81
the bandits II captured would be difficult II not
impossible. The remains Of Hilton, the dead
engineer, passed through this city on routo to
Milwaukee, Hilton's former home. A dispatch
from Dodge City at 10 o'clock to night statca
that there are no new Developments In the sit
untion. The men arrested yesterday arc still
held FOR Identification. II ia generally believed
that the amount OF money In the express safe
was about 100000. Fireman Fadlc. who was
shot In the neck, though badly wounded, Is do
Ing well.
KANSAS Cry, October IA Dodge
City, Kansas. special saws: Harry Donnclly,
barkccpcr employed IN Donahuc's saloon. and
one Dean were brought here from Coolidge,
the scene OF the train robbery, and lodged IN
jail last evening. All concerned are very rcti-
cent and refused to be interviewed. Marshal
Mathcr and Mr.. Sutton. attorney Of the road,
think the circumstan,ial evidence against Dean
very strong.