Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-23
ATTEMPTED RESCUE,
Burgettstown Burglars Try
to Release Their Pals
From Jail, but Are
FRUSTRATED BY CITIZENS.
A Great Quantity of Stolen Goods
Recovered in an Old Mill.
HAD PLENTY OF BURGLARS TOOLS
Clever Capture Of Supposed Leader of
the Gang Yesterday.
FRUSTRATED BY CITIZENS.
HAD PLENTY OF BURGLARS TOOLS
Clever Capture Of Supposed Leader of
the Gang Yesterday.
PEOPLE IN A STATE OF EXCITEMENT

IEOIID IN SlAlE UT BAOllIhENl
The people of Burgettstown are in a state
of feverish excitement over the arrest of
the gang of supposed tramp burglars there
on Saturday night Yesterdays develop
ments in the case show that instead of being
tramps, the gang is composed of expert safe
blowers and all-round burglars AS was noted
in THE SUNDAY DISPATCH the gang was
captured after a desperate chase bv the
Burgettstown officers at Hunters mill east
of Dinsmore. Yesterday after searching
the shanty about mile from Burgettstown,
where the booty from the Oakdale robberies
was recovered, the officers decided that
more was to he found somewhere, and they
returned to Dinsmore and searched Hunters
mill
Their efforts were well rewarded. Secreted
under pile of boards under the mill floor
they uncovered a collection of stuff that
would stock a general store, and an outfit
of burglars and safe-blowers' tools sufficient
to equip dozen gangs for business
Part of the Gang Still at Large
That all the thieving gang has not yet
been arrested was made apparent yesterday.
While the officers were away at Dinsmore
one section of the gang set fire to and
burned to the ground the shanty which had
been used as a rendezvous Another gang
of three men went to the Burgettstown
Jail, and quietly sneaking up to the build
ing unobserved, they made an assault
on the building to rescue their comrades
Owing to the somewhat isolated position of
the iail it was some time before the actions
of the gang were learned. A lady who lives
near saw them trying to force open door,
and noticed that one of the men seemed to
be on guard and held a revolver in his
hand. She called the attention of couple
Of citizens to the gang, and in few mo-
ments crowd was formed and a rush was
made for the desperadoes.
Their guard had been attending to his
business, however, and before the citizen
party reached the Jail building the gang
had made their escape by scaling a fence
in the rear of the Jail and then, keeping be-
hind the fence, they ran until beyond reach
of their discounted pursuefs 1t was evil
dens from the marks upon the Jail door
and the condition of The lock that the res
cuers would have been inside the building
If they-had been allowed another minutes
time. A special watch was put on the Jail
last night and if the rescuers return they
will receive a vigorous welcome.
One of the Leaders Caught at Mcdonald.
At Mcdonald yesterday there was ar
rested a man who is known as a card writer,
or fancy penman, who is thought TO be one
Of the leaders of the gang. The name ofthe
prisoner could not be learned, but he said
he was a resident of Allegheny. His ar
rest was the result of his own actions. When
one OF the trains pulled into Burgettstown
yesterday morning this man alighted and
started to walk along the platform. Con-
stable McCabe happened to be at the sta
tion, and just as the train pulled out of the
station the Allegheny man saw the constable.
He became white as ghost at once, and be-
fore the constable had time to give the mat
ter a second thought the fellow had run
after the train and jumped on the rear plat
form, turning as he did so and waving his
hand TO the officer.
Constable McCabe teleCraphed to Nc
Donald to intercept the fellow, but it was
not necessary. He wanted to come to
Pittsburg but only had money enough to
pay his fare to Mcdonald and was put off
there. On the telegram from Burgettstown
he was arrested and taken back to that
place last night. The constable claims to
have evidence connecting the fellow with
recent affairs in the town, but will give no
information at this time.
The conStables and number of deputy
sherifs are hard at work endeavoring to
md the other members of the gang and it
is probable that several Pittsburg detectives
VIII be called on to-day TO assist in the cap
ture.
Ready to Make a General Raid.
An inventory of the stuff found at the
Dinsmore mill would indicate that this des-
perate gang of robbers were making prepa-
rations for a general raid on the surround |
ing country. In addition to a large num-
Der of fine steel drills, burglars iimmies,
blasting powder and other articles belong |
ing to the burglars and safe blow |
ers craft there was found a lot of |
jewelry, drygoods, boots, shoes and |
clothing that has been captured BY the |
thieves in the numerous burglaries that |
have occurred recently at Oakdale, Nc. |
Donald and around Burgettstown. Part of |
the collection of boots, shoes and clothing |
proved to be part of a lot taken by the |
gang from three freight cars broken into |
and robbed at Mansfield only last Sun |
day night. judging from large supply of |
fresh meat, eggs, butter and other pro-
vender found at the Dnsmore mill it would |
appear that the gang had not expected that |
this rendezvous would be raided after the
capture of the party on Saturday.
The leader OF the gang at large is a man
who has served long term in the peniten-
tisry and it is said he was only released on |
the 9th of last month. Conductor Dan
Brown, of the Burgettstown accommodation,
who is responsible for turning up this des- |
perate gang, is receiving the thanks
and congratulations of the town. |
Thus far none of the stuff stolen |
from the Burgettstown postoffice last Thurs |
day night has been recovered, but it is |
thought that some of the jewelry found at |
the Dlnsmore mill was. that taken from |