St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-22
F. PEACOCK WRIGHT.

low. while sereneiy above them two
robbers were 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 conductor and messenger.
both similarly equipped. Then fol-
lowed
ROYAL BATTLE.
The messenger and conductor were
piuckP. and, partly barricaded by boxes
and packages, fired at the robbers as
fast as they could shoot. The thieves
fired too. but they were at a disadvan-
tage. During the shooting the con-
ductor received slight pistol wound in
the hand. Neither side seemed to be
able TO conquer. when help came TO the
railroad employees. The promiseuous
shooting had aroused the passengers
and they. terrified and Just waking, had
been busy concealing their valuabies.
On the train, dead-heading his way,
was I. j. Sanders. a brakeman on the
road. he came to the rescue of the
conductor and messenger, armed with a
shotgun. He attacked the robbers
from the rear and, though in turn at
tacked-by the third robber. managed to
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
Centralla 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 fugirives.
Inc trail was hot, and they had good
hope and splendid prospect OF catching
the men before daylight. Had the pas-
Sengers on the train knew how few the
robbers were it is doubtful if they
would have remained terrorized. They
showed their disgust when they were
told how easily they had been held up.
! he officials of the American Express
company we're notified early this morn
ing of the attempted robbery, and two
OF them left for Centralia af 3 o'clock on
the fast mail 1t is not known how much
money was IN the express messengers
care. but It is said that the amount
would
EXCEED $50. 600.
1t is believed by the railroad employees
that the robbers were three men VINO
had been seen lettering around the
Centralia depot all day YESTERDAY The
night before they were driven of the
same train just after IL left Centraiia.
One of them was heard TO remark thar
the next time they would be more sue
cessful.
The express company officials re-
ceived message early this morning
saying that the wounded robber could
not live, as he was shot through the
body. Brakeman Sanders leveled
shotgun at him aud fired point blank.
He was riddled with shot. and fell to
the floor OF the car bleeding and CRYING
for mercy. The wounded roDber. who
gave his name as George Jones. was ear
ried to the station. On his person were
found passes under the name of Dan L.
Jones. and travelling card from a Chi
cago Order of Railway L Irainmen. issued
Aug. p: also switchman's card issued
by the Santa Fe route 1t Kansas City.
He gave the names of the other two
robbers as Martin Nichols and J. Har-
din. There was some talk by the pass
engers OF hanging Jones to a telegraph
pole. but CentraiiA officers protected
him and locked hin up under heavy
guard at the city Jail. The wounded
robber received the charge of shot over
the left eye. Engineer Benjamin Young
was shot in the shoulder and in the cen
ter of the back. The fireman was hit in
the chin anu forehead. the ball lodging
in the neck. Conductor Oduln received
painful wound in his right hand. All
OF the train crew live at Centralia.