The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-06-10
They Hold UP a Northern
Pacific Train Near
Bismarck, N D.
The Express Messenger Escapes, Hav.
ing Secured His Treasure
Box in the Safe.
A Huge Mass Of Registered Letters
Stolen by the Robbers---Search-
ing Parties Out
nIsaAncE. N. D.. June ..

The most daring train robbery ever at
tempted IN the northwest occurred about
two miles east OF New Salem, twenty miles
above Bismarck, N. ID on Saturday night,
when the Northern Pacific east-bonnd
passenger train vas held mp by four high
waymen. When the train arrived At New
Salem two men got ON the front end of the
baggage car and after the train had started
up and got under way they climbed over
the tender and into the engine and COW
cred the engineer and fremen with their
revolvers. They brandished the cooked
weapons before the terrified engineer and
fireman and threatened them with instant
death II they did not stop at certain
point down the line, where the robbers
were joined by two confederates. Before
the train stopped at this point two shots
whizzed past the enginesr's ears, probably
TO intimidate MIN.
Express Messenger Angeyine here ex-
hibited wonderful coolness and presence
OF mind. Hearing the shots fred on the
engine and noting that the train came 10
an abrupt halt on the lonely prairie, he
suspected something was wrong. he
opened the great safe treasure box of the
express company, which contained many
thousand dollars, and slowed the contents
safely away In a big safe which stands In
all express cars, and which could be opened
by none. except the messenger, without
several hours hard work al safeblowinp.
He then left the car by the end door, lock-
ing 1t after him, and hastened back to
New Salem, where he gave the alarm.
After the train had been stopped, the
mail, express and baggage cars were
uncoupled from the balance of the train
BY the brakemen, the robbers supervising
the operations with leyeled rsEelxeFs. The
robbers compelled the engineer 20 pull
these uncouplsd cars away from the pass
enger coaches, and when the detached cars
had been stopped again the engineer and
fireman were ordered to break open the
door of the express car, and then with a
coal pick they succeeded I'm opening the
iron box, but found II entirely empty Of
amy valuables. They were SO enraged ii
aefhua asGgYsEss ssAaf eaas es ihe yillaina
head with the butt end OF the revolver,
telling him like an OK 10 the floor Of the
car, where he remained unconscious fifteen
minutes.
The robbers evidently thought the mes
senger had escaped with the contents OF
the iron box and did not search the oar or
attempt TO effect an entrance into the safe,
but turned their attention 10 the mail car.
in which they secured seven valuable
pouches of registered mail matter, besides
a large quantity OF loose registers. They
then msde their escape, and the train re-
turned to New Salem, where a posse Of
men was immediately organized and started
in pursuit of the robbers. The train was
delayed an hour and none Of the passen-
gers were molested, and until the train cot
back to New Salem didn't know what hap
paned during their slumbers.
The robbers are described aa follows:
One is about 30 years OF age, light hair,
beard aud monstache; feet 10 inches ia
height; cutaway coat, buttons at the top;
weighs 40 pounds. Another is about 40
years, shaggy, grey full beard, grayish
~co1oF clothes, and weighs I6O pounds. No
description can De given Of the other two
desperadoeg.
Soon after the first party of men set out
several others followed suit. At Hancock
tan sturdy citizens, armed TO the teeth, set
out with the determination 20 gain q sur
render or bring the robbers back dead, but
nothing has been heard from them.
Never has this section been in such a
wild state OF excitement. Searching spar
tIes have been organizing ana there are at
least 500 armed men engaged In hunting
down the robbers. A settler came to New
Salem and reported that he saw camp of
tough, suspicious looking strangers ON the
road. He did not so near to investigate,
as he mad heard nothing about the trrih
being held up there. With this clue a
strong party set out to investigate, but has
not yet reported. :
The express company sustained no loss
whatever, but the postoffce department
loss is heavy, amounting TO far into the
thousands. Both the express company
and the postoffice department will offer big
rewards for the apprehension of the rob.
bers or the recovery of the booty. Postal
Inspector Watkins, of Washington, hap
pened to be In Bismarck and left for tbs
scene. There are so many people sconr.
ing the country that The robbers cannol
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