Evening journal., 1892-03-15
FIERCE FIGHT On A TRAIN
Desperate Safe Burgla ars Fire Right
and Left TO Escape.


express. that reaches Dover at about . 80
clock this morning, probably had an
experience that they never will forget
and which some Of them will never want
to be compelled to witness again.
Yesterday morning Special Detective
Hutchins received an order to go 70
Milford aud try to ferret out the safe
crackers who so successfully operated
there on Sunday night he located
them in Wyoming and Immediately sent
word to Chief Of Police Lockerman Of
Dover and Constable Smith CT Camden.
All four of the suspected men hid
bought tickets for Wilmington, They
boarded train No. TO- known rs the Old
Point express, which reaches Wyoming
about 80 o'clock, when the officers came
up to them. Two of the safe-crackers
were sitting in the front of the car and
two In the rear.
1.-THE DROP" ON THEM.
No sooner had the officers advanced
toward the professional burglars, than
the latter drew from their pockets almost
simultaneously. long and ghstening re
volvers, Then commenced a scene that
the officers will never forget
Lockerman was standing against the
car door when one of the men ran at him
with revolver in each hand and said
Move away from that door or l shoot
you dead Lockermsn had his hand on
his revolver, but the other man had the
drop" on him and the officer relin-
quished his hold on the door.
HOLDING TIKI FORT.
One of the big burglars ran in the
water closet and breaking the glass TO
smiIhereens, began to lombard the
officers on the outside. Tue officers we're
not idle, however, while this vas going
on. but they we're using their revolyers
with vigor.
The mAn who was la the closet. evi-
IDENTIFY having completed his gun,
jumped out the window and no more was
seen Of him, Two Of the burglars, then
in the car jumped from the window and
one from the platform
The train was near Cheswold while all
this was going on, and going at the rate
OF 80 miles an hour.
HUTCHINs sHooTs ONE MAN.
Detective Hutchins fred three shots at
the ma who left the car by way Of the
platform. The last shot, he thinks, took
effect as the man fell from the car as II
wounded. The fight lasted for about
four minutes aud about twenty shots
were eAChdhBou'
ONE OFFICER WOUNDED THRICE.
officer Smith received bullet through
the shoulder of his overcoat and another
glanced his Jaw, while another took off
part of one finger.
FORTY TERRIFIED PASSENGERS
There were about forty people in
the car when the fight began, but when
the engagement was over the car was
empty. Women tainted, children csied
and men eiawled under the seats.
STORY or THE BURGLARY
Six safes were blown open ia different
parts Of Milford and the supposi ion is it
was all done by the same persons. For
the past two days four strange men have
been noticed lounging around town, and
though they we're neatly dressed and did
not in the least have the appearance Of
trsmps, yet they were begging from door
to door. Many citizens gave them meals
on Saturday and Sunday, and at the same
time asked them, but could get no infor.
nation, as to their identity, except that
they said they we're from Philadelphia
and we're on their way to Norfolk, Va. in
search OF work
The first place supposed to have been
broken into is the undertaking establish
ment Of w g. Powder on North Front
street, where they succeeded in owing
open the safe by breaking of the dial on
the door and slipping the bolts back It
was a new safe. From this they took $50
in cash but did not disturb the books nor
some valuable papers that were In the
safe. The carriage shop Of P. P. Rick
ards across the street was also entered
as was the blacksmith shop of W. G.
Welch, adjoining. A few tools were
taken from the latter place, bus nothing
else is missing. The next place was
the butcher shop Of w. h. Davis at the
Walnut street bridge. which crosses the
Mispillion river. the dividing line between
Kent and Sussex counties The shop
was broken into and the safe cracked
AS In the first Instance the dial was
broken of But this Il me either blasting
powder or dynamite was used. being
placed in the hole Of the door, The door
was blown open and completely wrecked,
but Mr.. Davis did not leave any cash in
the safe Saturday night, though there
wers some valuable papers
This Is In the heart of the town and
the safe was sitting in front Of a big
plate glass window and could be plainly
seen from the street Only half q square
up Walnut street is located the store Of
J. E. Holland. This was the next place
selected. They succeeded in prying open
the front door The safe was blown open.
Here they made the largest haul taking
about $500 In cash, but as before leaving
some large checks aud valuable papers.
A small safe In Mr.. Hollands Office was
also opened, but nothing was taken from
it.
The last place entered was tie Pennsyl.
vania depot. They entered the. front
door by prying the lock open. The safe
was blown open in the same msnner and
presumably by explosives Of the same
kind. About $40 is all they secured from
there. Detectives are searching for the
thieves.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MON.
The burglars are al young men, none
of them being over 25 years old. Deteo-
tive Hutchins, in speaking Of the affair
this morning, said that they we're the
worst customers he had ever tackled.
1t is ex 3ected that some Of the men will
be found dead OF wounded, for 1t was
almost impossible for human beings to
go through that baptism Of fire and 9ump
from a train moving at that high rate OF
speed without being injured.
The officers say that the men were well
prepared as they each had two or three
rev0lvers. These they used with skill
aud bravado that showed that they in
tended never to be taken alive. All Of
the fellows were well-dressed.