The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-06-13
A TRAIN HELD UP.
Two Masked Men Go Through
a Train Near New
Salem, n. D.
Detachments of Cavalry and
Indian Scouts Securing
the Country.
MANpAN, N. D., Specia

MANDAN, N. D., Special Telegram,
ger train due at midnight arrived at !
O'Clock this morning, the mail car present
ing sorry appearance. Two miles west OF
New Salem and twenty-five miles west
of here the engineer and fireman
were surprised by two masked men
climbing over the tender and ordering the
rain stopped at the end of big revolvers.
The summons was obeyed. Express mes
senger Angevine, hearing shots fired for
ward and suspecting something, hid $500
in money from the safe, locked the small
safe, put out the lights and ran back
to New Salem. The mail car was first
tackled by the robbers. Only one mail
agent was in the car and he Immediately
obeyed orders" by turning over the mail
matter. A number of registered letter were
rifled and then the two robbers turned their
attenti N to the express car. This they
found deserted, much to their chagrin, and,
installing the fireman for the express mes
senger, they ordered him
AT THE POINT OF PISTOLS
to open the safes. He protested that he
knew nothing aboutit, and finally satisfied
the robbers. Then the train backed to New
Salem, and finally came on east. The ex-
press messenger remained incognito, and
got. on the train as it left New Salem.
The passengers were not touched One put
his head out Of the window during the de-
lay, but was told to get his head back,
and bullet whizzed past his head as re-
minder that orders had better be obeyed. A
posse of men with the sheriff, mounted and
armed, leave on special train for
the scene of the daring robbery. The rob-
bers compelled Engineer Kilmartin to
break in the door of the postal car. Only
four masked men were seen at any one
time, and suspicious are rife that only two
were engaged in the work. During the
controversy in the mail car the
mask fell from the face of one
man, reported to be of medium height
and build, light hair and with several days
growth of light beard. The district around
New Salem is peopled by quiet, law-abid-
ing settlers. 1t is presumed to be the work
of people unknown in this part of the
country.
MANDAN, N. D., Special Telegram,
The two desperadoes who held up the
east-bound Northern Pacific train early
this morning are supposed to be travelling
towards the Black Hills. Some people be-
ieve they are going in the direction of her
majestys dominions. From Fort Buford,
in the north, and Fort Yates, in the south,
cavalry and Indian scouts are securing the
country. The railroad or express company
lost nothing. Nor did the passengers.
Only the registered mail was molested, and
that was taken. A tramp who was stealing
ride on the blind baggage is
how in Mandan Jail, and he pro-
tesses to be able to identify the
robbers if they are caught. He says he was
at New Salem resting on the front mail car
when two masked men stepped on the plat
form where he was. They informed him
that if he kept still he would not be in
jured. He obeyed orders implicitly. The
details of the event, as gathered from the
train men, passengers and this tramp are
as follows AS the train moved away from
New Salem station tWo robbers with masks
got on the blind baggage and clalnbered
over to the engine. The train was run &C.
cording to their orders and stopped about
mile away. Engineer Kilmartin undid
the couplings three cars back, according to
orders, and then proceeded. accompanied by
the robbers, another mile with engine, mail,
baggage and express cars. Under the di-
rection of one robber, while the five train
hands were held in a row by the other, the
engineer broke open the small safe in the
express car. which Express Messenger
Angevine had lett empty. In the mail car
Clerk Sherlock delivered up the registered
mail and then the deSDeradOes left At
first it was reported that four men were en-
gagged in the work, but the trainmen say
there were only two. Not trainm an was
armed, which accounts for the lack of
bloodshed. It is supposed to be the work
of tough cowboys living distance from the
railroad district. The superintendent OF
mails arrived to-day. Capt. Fechet of Fort
Yates happened here to-day, and left for
Fort Yates Immediately to aid in the
search.