The Portland daily press., 1893-09-22
ONE ROBBER KILLED.
A Bold Passenger With a Shot Gun
Made a Flank Attack,
WHILE THE TRAIN MEN KEPT
THEIR REVOLVERs AT WORK.


A Mail Train Held Up on the Illinois Cen.
tra1-The Engineer and Fireman
Showed Fight and Were Shot Down at
Their Posts-Then a Desperate Battle
Was Fought and the Robbers were
Beaten Off.
Centralia, ILL.,, September a.-The
New Orleans limited train on the Illinois
Central road was held up shortly after
II O'Clock last night just outside this
city, and in the battle which followed
between the three robbers. and the train
hands one of the robbers was mortally
wounded and three of the crew were
badly hurt. The thieves got nothing in
the way of booty and ali the grown in
habitants of this place are on the hunt
for the two thieves who got away.
Those who were hurt in the shooting
incident to the attack were: Engineer
Young, Conductor Odum, Fireman Nc
Dowell, robber.
The train held up left Chicago at
o'clock yesterday afternoon, and reached
this city at 11.05 p. m. It's stop was
very short, but in that time three men
heavily armed and carrying tools. which
later came into play, boarded the front
end of the express car.
The light of Centralia streets had
scarcely disappeared from view, and
Engineer Young had hardly pulled open
the throttle, when both Fireman Nc
Dowell and the engineer heard a noise
on t he tender behind them. Both
turned in alarm. Their fears were real
lied, for staring them in the face were
two revolvers, Keep your mouths shut
and stop the machine, or we will shoot"
the robbers cried.
Both sprang at the robbers. The two
railroad employees had hardly reached
the foot of the coal heap when two sheets
of fire flashed in their faces and both fell
wounded on the platform connecting cab
and tender. One of the masked robbers
sprang over the forms of the bleeding
men and putting his hand on the lever,
slowed up the tram.
When the train had been stopped one of
the robbers ran back to the coaches and,
revolver in hand, stood guard over
Baggage Master Armstrong and Brake
man Stacy. The two other thieves
| climbed to the top of the express car, in
which were the messenger OF the Ameri-
can Express company and Conductor
Odium. They were just beginning to
get curious as to the stopping of the train
when they heard furious pounding on
the express car door, "Open the door
OF We'll blow you up" they heard man
cry.
Their reply was shot from revolver.
This was followed by another and an
other. The attack then took d new turn.
The men in the car had emptied their
revolvers, and were reloading them. In
this lull the robbers tried novel plan
for which they had prepared. They had
graphing hooks. These they fastened on
the top of the express car, and, with
| hon Iyac fn nf
the door This was done to avoid being
target for the bullets that soon COM
menced to pour through the sides of the
coach from the inside. The railroad men
were aiming low, while serenely above
them the two robbers We're welding
heavy sledge. The door did not withstand
the assault, and soon an opening, large
enough for the robbers to enter showed
itself Through this they leaped, and,
revolvers in hand, faced the conductor
and messenger, both similarly equipped.
The messenger and conductor were
plucky, and, partly barricadedsby boxes
| and packages, fred at the robbers as fast
as they could shoot. The thieves fred
| too, but they were at disadvantage.
| During the shooting the conductor re-
ceived slight pistol wound in the hand.
! Neither side seemed TO be able to conquer,
when help came to the railroad employees;
| The promiscuOus shooting aroused
the passengers, and they, terrified, had
| been busy concealing their valuables.
On the train was one P. J. Sanders, who
| came to the rescue of the conductor and
| messenger, armed with shot gun. He
| attacked the robbers from the rear, and,
| though in turn attacked by the third
robber, managed to fatally shoot one OF
| those in the express car through the
| body. The others, seeing, their companion
fall bleeding, took to their heels and got
away through the trees and fields. One
| of the train hands hurried back to
| Centralia with the news Of the robbery,
| and the town was aroused. In half an
hour posses of men were beating the
| country near the place where the train
was held up in hunt for the fugitives.
| The trail was hot and they had good hope
and splendid prospect OF catching the
men this morning.
| It is not know how much money was
| in the express messengers care, but it is
| said that the amount would exceed $780,
900.
The wounded robber,, who gave his
name as George Jones, was carried TO
the station. On his person were found
passes under the name of Dan u. Jones
and travelling card from Chicago or
| der of Railway Trainmen, issued August
"a, also swiSchman's card issued by the
Santa Fe Route at Kansas City. He gave
| the nmes of the other two robbers as
Martin Nichols and J. Harden. There
was some talk by the passengers, OF
hanging Jones to telegraph pole, but
| locked him up under heavy guard at
the city hall jail. Engineer Young was
shot in the shoulder and in the centre of
| the back The fireman was hit in tie
chin and forehead, the ball lodging in
| the neck.