Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-02-25
A RUNNING FIGHT
Revolvers and Shotgun Make
Things Lively.
Finally Captured and Says He
Comes From New Mexico.

ROCHESTER,, N. l., req. 81. - ne snOot-
ing Of en- express messenger on Central
Hudson train, the rihing of q valuable safe,
the fight of the rohber on the engine of au-
other train, from which he drove the crew
at the point of revolver, a running fight
from the engine cab for miles, chased by
another engine filed with railway men and
the Anal capture of the Desperate by
sheriff posse in a swamp after wild pur-
suit across the country, are some OF the sem
sational features Of the most desperate at
tempt at train robbery in the history Of the
Central Hudson railway.
Train No. 81 on the Central Hudson is
known as the American Express company's
special 1t runs avery day in the year be-
tween New York and Buffalo and carries
only goods and property shipped by that
company. Nearly all OF the cars are run
through to Chicago and contain the most
valuable express matter. One car is known
as the money car aud in it is sent the
specie from the U. S. treasury for Western
banks as we'll as the money in process of ex-
change between the banks Of New York
and the West. The load OF wealth sent from
New York this train is usually greater
on Saturday evenings than on other days
and often amounts to more than u million
dollars in addition to jewelry and other
Valuables
Daniel McInerny Of this city, was in
c1arge Of the money car on the trip Satur-
day night The train was made up of eight
express cars and one day coach for the ac-
commodation OF the regular train crew.
only one messenger was assigned to the
money the work of billing was light
The other cars had two messengers The
train left Syracuse at D o'clock this morn
ing in charge of Conductor Emil Lass OF
this city.
When the train near Weeds port the
conductor, who was in the coach with his
two trainmen, thought he heard the air
whistle sound very family. 1t was enough
to arouse him to the belief that something
was wrong in the express car. Going out
on the platform of the coach he climbed on
the rail and looking through the hole where
the bell cord comes through, he saw the up
per part of n man whose face below the eyes
was concealed b. red flannel mask The
messenger he could not see. lie went back,
set the air brakes and called his two train
men.
The three stood leaning out from the
platform looking forward along the sdss of
the express car. Suddenly a man appeared
nj the side door of the express car, revolver
bulats whistled past their ears and a voice
wc5 heard commanding them to signal the
engineer to go ahead or take the conse-
quences. Tho trainmen were uuarmed
The conductor told ono OF his men TO lump
of, run back to Jordan and telegraph to
Rochester that they had train robber on
board
This was done and the conductor sig
naled the engineer 10 so ahead fun speed,
thinking thai the robbcr would not dare to
jump and would be captured at the next
Ia frai tn,
tine brakes were set again, and the conduc-
tor and the trsinnan went TO the express
car. The car showed Signs OF desperate
struggle, money packages and jewelry were
lying scattered about, everything ia tho
car aeemed stained with blood, and Messan-
ssr Aclneury was lying bleeding from sew
eral wounds and almost uucon scous. the
roOber was nowhere TO be seen and was sup
posed to have jumped and escaped
y telegram for an ambulance vsg sent to
Rochester and the ra'n went on to Lyons.
the next stop. Tho news nul spread all
along the hne and the station at Lyons was
airs With people Among others in the
crowd was vol dressed young man wear
log gold eye glasses aud carrying IA 81 tchol
sluns by II strap over his shoulder. The
tralnmen had noticed hi. young man al
Syracuse, before the train pulled out. and
Of what ne wss doing at Lyons
aud how lie got thsrs at once
suggested itssf. An attempt was made to
seize him, but he pulled out two revolvers,
held the crowd back and backed across the
yard until be reached coal train, the on
gine OF which with steam up was ready to
pull out for tho West. He pulled the pin
holding the tender to the first car, climbed
over the coal into the cab, drove the engi-
nosr aud fireman out with his rsvolvers and
started the engine.
Conductor Laass and one Of the switch
men procured ashotgun, freed the engine Of
the express aud with fireman and en- gineer
started in pursuit Of the fugitive.
The Central Hudson Ia a four track road
and She two engines, though both going West
were not on the same track. Tho express
engine soon overlook the robber. reversed
HE engine and let his pursuers pass him,
pouring perfect hail OF pistol bullets in.o