The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-10
The conductor,s Account.

the robbers who attacked the passenger train
on that road at Delhi last night
The Conductors Account.
The audscious attempt Of the train-robbsrs
the subject of conversation everywhere in
the city. yesterday, and . crowd was at the
depot when the train returned at noon with tho
crew that was aboard during the
ARRAY of night before last. One of
them was absent, however-Joe Ketcham,
the baggage master, who at that time was under
going difficult surgical operation at his home
in Cincinnati. The operation appeared to
promise well, but late yesterday evening the
train-dispatcher of the Big Four road received
the sad but not unexpected message: 'Kstcham
died at AS"
The baggage car in which Kstcham lost his life
was the object of the crowds curiosity. The rear
windows were shattered and there were various
bullet marks over it Conductor Letter and
brake man Stickel were on board, but the en-
eineer and fireman had left the train at the
yards Mr. Letter said that the reports in this
mornings Journal and Cincinnati papers were
in the main correct. but that there
were some emissions. There appears
Z to have been but four robbers concerned in tho
attack. although this is not positive. Moreover.
they did obtain entrance to the car ketcham
engineer saw them. Zimmerman was the first
to see the outline Of the mems forms in front of
the front door. Look there. Joe," be said.
Ketcham made no reply. but walked hurried
taking with him lamp. As be was
afterwards able to explain, he thought the mon
were tramps. He ordered them OF the car,
and as he did so, they attempted to force the
door and partly succeeded IN doing So ;,a Kstsh
opened fire upon him. he In the mean time
standing bravely up until shot down: They
fired fully fifteen shots into the car: thinner
man, ir the mean time, fed through
tho rear door into the smokingcar
in order TO procure help. He
had no weapon except his revolver, which was
in the hip pocket of his pantaloons. over which
were pair of overalls tightly buttoned. Ac-
cordipgly. il would have boon folly to have re-
NAMED in the bagRage-caE As he rushed into
tho smoking-car he found the conductor and
brakeman and engineer James, who was going
to Cincinnati in order to take out train wait
There are . lot Of robbers in the
baggaee-car and they are killing
Ketcham" The four then turned toward
the baggage-car, followed by three or four
passengers At the door of the car they halted
q moment, butts the brakeman looking through
the door aud seeing one or two men bending
over Ketchman led the way in. At their ap-
proaoh the robbers left the car. Ketcham OBJ
served their entrance, and said fesbly to the
all over" He remained conscious all
the way to Cincinnati, and was able to
tell much that had happened. He said that
when he frst went TO the door he distinctly
heard one of the robbers say Kill him. aud
Immediately afterward another one said. mo.
don't do that" But the shots began coming.
After he had fallen they rifed his pockets, tax
ing out his keys. With these they went eagerly
to the express safe, to which they attempted to
ht them. but being the keys Of the baeeseeman
and not the messenger, they were unsuccessful
and Ketcham heard them cursng over it. They
left the keys In the safe and they are now ia the
possession Of the brakeman.
The other hero-more fortunate than Ketch-
am but none the less q hero--was James Boyd,
the engineer who had the fvemnutes' death
struggle in the coal-tender. Last night as he
lay exhausted by two days work without any
sleep at mis- house. No. 1913 Bates street, he told
Journal report or the details they appear in
his account given at Cincinnati He got tho
revolver away from his assailant, and twice The
latter rescued it from him. The robber was
the larger and stronger OK the two but all
through the struggle Boyd retained the vice.
like grip upon the mans throat which he had
obtained at the outset Of the struggle Boyd was o
| soldier almost through the war, being finally
| wounded at the battle Of the Wilderness where
his kuee-cap was shot of. This incapacitated
| him for further service, and has disabled him
| more or less during life. 1t was his knees
| which first began to weaken In his terrible
| struggle on Friday night.
A strange incident in connection with the
/ affair is tho strange premouition of Mrs. BOYD,
| wife of the engineer. When abe arose yestsr-
| day morning she was feeling no unusual uneasi-
| ness. and began her household affairs in her
| customary way Mrs. Boyd has formed regu-
lar habit of first building her fire Ia the morn
ing and then going and picking up the Journal,
over which she viii glance while the stove 10 be-
coming heated. Yesterday morning she says
| she was stopping over the stove and in the act
| of touching match to the ire when q terrible
| presentiment suddenly came upon her concern
| ing her husband and told her TO 90 out
| and pick up the paper. She followed
the inclination, and the first thing her eyes fell
| upon when she got the Journal was the account
| of the robbery; the shock WAS almost too much
for he. even though it disclossd the fact that her
husband had come ous sale and well.
| Experiences Of the Engineer and Fireman.
| CINCINNATI Commercial Gazette. Yesterday.
| James Boyd, the engineer of the train, made
gallant fight to save his train from being
stopped by the robbers. One Of them got on
his engine. climbing over the tender revolver
| in hand, to attack the engineer. Jim. Boyd.
IN old soldier. has been running the engine No
| IS. which be made such 6esparass resist
ancs to the robbsrs for sixteen ysars. He 10 .
man Of small but very strong physique. with
dark eYsss bgistly mustashA% an1 3 tpft el hair