Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1888-06-19
"HANDS UPw
A Northern Pacific Passenger
Train Held UP Saturday
Night near Big Horn.
The Thieves Manage to Get
Away with About $500
in Money.

BILLINGS, NJ. T., June l7.-(Special
TO the JOURNAL. Passenger train No.
|, fast express, west bound, was held
up about a mile east of Big Horn sta
ton by masked men, who robbed the
express car and the passengers. The
train was stopped by torch signals, at
about $3.50 p. m. and a masked man
appeared at the steps of the engine, at
the same time gun was fired on the
opposite side Of the engine, the bullet
cutting its way through the end of the
cab. Engineer T. II. Sargent and
Fireman w. b. Cavender were
ordered to throw up their hands,
which under the peculiar circum-
stances they took pleasure in doing.
They were ordered to dismount from
the cab and forced at the point of a
pistol to break into the rear of the ex-
press car, with the coal pick and crow.
car. The engineer was forced to crawl
into the express car and hand out the
messengers weapons. This gritty ex,
pressman at first refused to surrender,
but as the price Of his refusal was the
life of both engineer and fireman, he
at last yielded. Several of the gan G
then entered the car and opened the
local safe, securing $50, the through
express safe being hid by q number of
large packages. The gang then plac.
ing the fireman and engineer in the
lead entered the coaches. The psssen-
gers were ordered TO hold up their
hands, and every one complied. One
guard was stationed at each door OF
the car, and only one robber went
through the train. Several had only
dollar or two in silver, which, as the
robber remarked, broke his b art to
accept, and the coin was promptly re-
turned. No jewelry or other valuables
were taken. The robbery consumed
about an hour and half, and by that
time the passengers in the sleeper be-
cane aware of the proceedings aud hid
most of their money and vsluables but
sufficient money was taken from the
passengers to make in all haul of
about $500 for the daring bandits.
The engineer was finally allowed to
A. C. Campbell, of Hardin & Co., was
on the train with several thou
sand dollars and saved all but $50.
return to his engine, but the fireman
was kept in close custody until the
robbers were through with their work
and had retired. There were but
three robbers at the train, the fourth
being with the horses in a coulee.
The very improbsbility Of a train be -
ing robbed by three men is what made
the affair so successful. Sheriff Irvine,
OF Miles City. was notified by tele.
graph that the robbery had been COM
mitted, and gathering q posse OF six
men he arrived at Big Horn at about
$3.50 a. m. and with good horses and
some VI the best trailers in the coun.
try took up the trail Of the fleeing rob
bers and II is highly probable that
they will be run 10 earth. Sheriff
Harris. Of Billings, to-day sent three
men on the other side Of the Big Horn.
Conductor Beemsn has taSen list OF
all who lost money. The passengers
Of the train COVE written testimonial
of their appreciation OF the
BRAVE AND WISE BEHAVIOR
OF Conductor T.. w. Beemau. IL says:
awe are convinced he was ready "a
shed his own blood first II the defense
Of our lives demanded 1t. by his cool.
ness and courageous words he pre-.
vented the bloodshed that was immi-
nent.n This Is the frat time North
ern Pacific train has been held up OF
robbed in Montana.