The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-06-22
A BIG GANG OF TRAIN ROBBERS
Hold Up . Northern Pacific Train, Rob It,
and Escape.

"A Y Ae0 AOVVAOPOo . - ~
train robbery. When last Saturdays west
bound Northern Pacific express was within
about 30 miles of Billings at . little after II
p. m. the engineer saw q torch waved across
the track. and slowed down for the danger
signal on q long curve, but on finding asquad
Of men dressed a. cowboys and suspecting
they were robbers attempted to start NJ
again. Fire was Immediately opened on
the cab and the engineer and fireman were
compelled to shut off steam, detach the en-
CINE, run it ahead, draw the fires and accom-.
pany the robbers in their raid on the express
and passenger cars. Their numbers are var
iously reported from 8 to II. They rode
along the train, shooting into it and terror
izing the passengers. Their first foray was
on the express car, the door of which had
been bolted by John Ennis, messenger. The
engineer and fireman were first compelled to
batter in the door, and as progress was slow
they were compelled on peril of their lives
to call on Ennis to open it, which he did.
They robbed the small safe and messenger,
getting $40, but the big safe Was too formid.
able looking and for some reason they let it
alone. It is said to have contained SIS, 900.
A detail next went through the Pullman, each
platform being occupied by . roober with q
rifle, aud the chief Of the gang working the
combination on a big revolver while the en-
the pocketbooks and pocket money of pas
sengers and to hand them over to the boss
robber. The latter had a Chesterieldian
way of doing things, declining to take money
from ladies, returning small money, disdain-
ing watches and jewelry or the train boys or
train mems accumulations. All were notified
that if they did not give up they would be
shot, but during the long delay passengers
had secreted their money in the beds, car
pets, spittoons and elsewhere, and while the
robbers only got about $500 several times
that amount was saved. The rang are sup
posed to have relied Of making their haul
from the express car, but although they had
absolute possession and all the time they
wanted-using up an hour and q quarter
they bungled their work so they got only q
pittance.
Among the passengers were Lanier and
Mary l.. Napton, the children of Thos. L.
Napton, Esq, returning to Butte from school
at Washington, D. c., and Mr.. James Nc
Gregor, of Anaconda, returning with his
bride. DR.. and Mrs. A. H.. Mitchell were ex.
pected by that train, but were not on board.
The Pullman passengers signed q highly
complimentary card attesting the courage
and good conduct of Conductor E. W. Bren-
nan, who got two of the robbers to carry
back a red light against an expected freight
train from behind. 1t is suspected the rob-
bers were cowboys who recently came
through from Texas with cattle.
Governor Leslie, for the Territory, has
offered $500 for the arrest and conviction of
each person concerned in the robbery, and
the Northern Pacific has offered a reward of
$500 each-making if there were twelve in
tho gang an aggregate reward of $1,000. 1t
would seem that this is inducement sufficient
to put q strong party in pursuit, and, with the
advantages of telegraphic communication, to
overtake or intercept and capture them.
This train robbing is something new to Mon
tana and if the rewards should read so that if
the perpetrators should get fatally injured in
being captured the rewards would be paid
just the same it would have q beneficial
effect on this or other instances that might
occur. The Indian foray M road agent
business that In stage coach days sometimes
had to be endured should now be discour-
aged as theoretically, Immediately and finally
as possible. Every unpublished attempt en-.
courages another, and if the ''square" cow
boys of Montana can be helped to run down
these robbers there should be no sticking
about the Expense. A good cleanup of the
gang would discourage others.
Since the above was in type, Sheriff Tom
VII. .e v..A.. -.:<L ,:~ aon,,,;no and TOM