Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-29
CAPTURED A TRAIN.
A Wild Gang Attends Picnic EX-
cursi0n and Breaks it Up.
TWO TRAIN CREWS OvERPOWERED
And Badly Beaten Up by Mob, All of
Whose Members but Three
ESCAPE BEFORE ASSISTANCE ARRIVES

Word was received yesterday afternoon
at the Twenty-eighth ward station from the
Lake Erie depot that mob had taken pos
session of an excursion train at Shannopin,
and would not let the engineer take out the
train. The train, of ten coaches, was on
the way 10 Aliquippa, with party bound
for the cork cutters picnic.
The trouble commenced by the men
insulting several ladies, who called
upon the conductor to protect them. Con-
ductor McCloskey, who had charge of the
special, told the man to desist from making
any further disturbance or he would be
compelled to eject him from the train.
This put a stop to the row for time, but
the crowd adjourned to the car ahead and
resumed their disorderly actions. This car
was filled with ladies and children, who
became terror-stricken and fled from the
car.
One of the gang, who gave his name as
Charles Goats, pulled the bell rope, and the
train came to standstill. The conductor
came back to ascertain the cause for stop
ping the train, and upon being informed
that Coats pulled the bell rope he immedi-
atelo seized hold of him and elected him
from the train. The signal was given to
start again, but the train did not move far
before the bell rope was pulled again. and
for the second time the train stopped.
THE CONDUCTOR BEATEN UP.
Coats got aboard the train again, and
when Conductor McCloskey attempted to
once more put him of, the friends of Coats
seized him and beat him badly. The trains
crew came rushing to the conductors assist
ance, but they we're powerless, as the infuriated
crowd outnumbered them. The crew got in.
side the car, which by this time was deserted
by the other passengers, and attempted to stop
the row. The mob sailed in and beat the crew
SO badly that they narrowly escaped Delng
murdered.
The train was ordered not to procede any
further, but the rioters objected to this, and
insisted upon the train moving on, and when
this was refused they threatened to clean out
tho whole train. There were not many people
on the train who were In sympathy with the
crew. and they condemned the action of the
conductor.
Whisky bottles were very conspicuous, and
the mob began to load up while the train
stopped. The engineer refused to take the
train out, as the drunken mob was continually
pulling at the bell rope.
The train had arrived at Shannopln at II
o'clock. and one hour had elapsed in which
train. A lady, who occupied a seat in the Sec
ond coach, in which the crew and rioters
fought swooned, and it was with great diff
Guilty that she was resuscltated.
After delay of one hour and half another
attempt was made to put the men off the train,
butit was useless, as the crowd was too large
for the six train men. A freight train arrived
at this time, and Conductor McCloskey, rein
forced by the freight crew, made another at
tempt to rout the mob. They were repulsed by
the rioters who drew revolvers, and threatened
to kill any one who attempted to molest them
again.
The Conductor went to the station and tele-
graphed to the Southside for squad of police
men. His request was granted as soon as
special train of two cars could be made up.
A MAIL TRAIN DELAYED.
Train No. 13, which carried the mails, arrived
at Shannopin about this time and was delayed
until the officers arrived from Pittsburg. The
gang heard that q number Of officers had
started down, and they made for the river.
This was about P. M, and the special train
bearing the policemen was due at Shannt pin.
1t arrived Just as the men were running away,
and the officers gave chase. The rioters had
good start, and reached the river bank in time
to secure four skiffs which were tied up along
the Shore All but three of the mob succeeded
in escaping in this way. The officers called
upon the men to come back, demand which
the fugitives did not heed. The policemen
failed to shoot any of them, as they had reached
midstream. They had taken all the boats on
the Shannopin side of the river, and conse-
se9uently the officers had to give up the chase.
The three men who figured most conspicu-
ously in the affair were secured and hand
cuffed by the officers. Thev were taken back
to the train and locked up in a car. Some of
the rioters made for the woods when 1t became
known that the train was on the way with
police. Several policemen were sent to the
woods, but failed to overtake the fugitives.
Word was sent to Allegheny to arrest the men
on their arrival there. as it was
supposed they would board train on
the Ft Wayne road on the opposite
side of the Ohio river from Shannopin.
The excursion train and the mail pulled out
after being laid up for about three hours and
a half. Special Officer Cook, of the Lake Erie
road. went down to the picnic grounds at Ali
quippa, and learned the names of nearly all the
mob. The three men captured gave their
names as John O'Neil Jerry Carter and Charles
Coats. at the police station, where they were
charged with rioting