The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-09
THE EAST-BOUND HELD UP
The Most Daring Train Robbery in
the History Of the
Northwest.
The East Bound Northern Pacific
Express Held Up at North
Salem, N. D.


Salem, N. D.
Tho Coolncss of the Express Messenger
Saves the Treasure, But the Mail
Was Robbed.
BISMARCK, N. D.. June 8.-[Special. j.
This section was electrified by the most dar-
ing train robbery ever attempted in the
northwest. It occnrred at midnight last
night about two miles east of New Salem,
seventy five miles west Of Bismarck, when
the Northern Pacific east bound passenger
tram was held up by four highwaymen.
When the train arrived at New Salem two
men got on the front end of the baggage
car. After the train started up and got
under way they climbed over the tender and
covered the engineer and iremen with
their revolvers. They brandished their
cooked weapons before the terrified engin-
eer and fireman and threatened them with
instant death if they did not stop at GER
tain point down the line, where the robb ers
were joined by two confederates. Before
the train stopped two shots whizzed past
the engineers head, probably to intimidate
him.
Express Messenger Angevine here exhib-
tied wonderful coolness and presence of
mind. Hearing the shots fred on the on
gine, and noting that the train had come to
an abrupt halt onthe lonely prairie. he sus-
pected something was wrong. He opened
the great iron treasure box of the express
company which contained many Thousand
dollars, and slowed the contents safely
away in the big safe which stands in all OK
press cars and which could be opened by
none except the messenger, without several
hours of hard work at safe-blowing. He
then left the car by the end door, locking
it after him, and hastened back to New Sa-
lem, where he gave the alarm.
After the train had been stopped. the
mail, express and baggage cars were un-
coupled from the balance of the train by
the brakeman, the robbers supervising the
operation with leveled revolvers. The rob-
bers compelled the engineer to pull these
uncoupled cars away from the passenger
coaches, and when the detached cars had
been stopped again the engineer and fre-
man were ordered to break open the door
OF the express car, and then
with coal pick they sue
ceeded in opening the iron box
but found il enti1ely empty Of any valua-
bles. They were SO enraged at this dir-av-
cry that one of the villains struck Z I
man stunning blow on the head W.,
butt end of his revolver, telling him like I'd ,
OK to the floor of the car, where he remailvd
unconscious for fifteen minutes. The rob-
bers evidently thought the messenger had
escaped with the iron box, and did not
search the car or attempt to effect an en-
trance into the safe, but turned their atten-
tion to the mail car, in which they secured
seven valuable pouches of registered mail
matter, besides large quantity of loose
registers. They then made their escape and
the train returned to New Salem, where
posse of men was Immediately organized
and started in pursuit of the robbers.
The train was delayed an hour and none
of the passengers were molested and until
the train got back to New Salem, they did
not know what had happened during their
slumbers. The robbers are described as
follows: One about 30 years of age, light
hair, beard and moustache, five feet ten
| inches in height, cutaway coat buttoned at
the top. weight about 40 pounds. Another
about 40 years, shaggy grey full beard,
grayish colored clothes and weighs about
100 pounds. No description can be given of
| the other desperadoes.
Soon after the first party of men set out
several others followed. At O'Clock this
morning ten sturdy citizens armed to the
teeth, set out with determination to gain
| surrender or bring the robbers back dead,
but up to this evening nothing had been
heard from them. Never has this section
been in such a wild state of excitement,
Vigilante parties have been organizing all
day and there are at least five hundred
armed men engaged in hunting down the
robbers. A settler came to New Salem this
afternoon and reported that he saw
camp of rough, suspicious-looking
| strangers on the road. He did
not go near to investigate, as he heard
nothing about the train being held up there.
With this clue strong party set out to in
vestigate, but have not yet reported. The
express company sustains no loss whatever,
but the postoffice department loss Is heavy,
amounting far into the thousands. Both
the express company and postoffice depart
ment will offer big rewards for the appre-
hension of the robbers, or recovery of the
booty. Postal Inspector Watkins, of WASH
ington, happened to be in Bismarck to-day
and left for the scene. There are 80 many
people securing the country that the rob-
bers can hardly escape.
It is learned from officers at the postoffice
in this city that the registered matter ON the
train consisted of nine pouches with many
loose packages. The train usually carries
two pouches each from Spokane, Portland,
Seattle, Helena, and one from Miles City.
Probably between $50 and 400 packages
were on the train of which 100 were from
Helena. On Friday night single package
containing $4,000 was sent east by bank
of this city. The officers are congratulating
themselves that this shipment was not
delayed until the following night.
Two Cable Cars Collide
CHICAGO, June 8.-Two cable trains
crowded with people collided tonight at the
corner Of Clark and Division streets. An
unaccountable derailing of one of the
trucks on a car caused the accident, Five
passengers were more or less seriously in
jured, but none fatally. In the wild scram.
Bile to escape, many women tainted and
great confusion prevailed.
Charged with EmbexxIinr