New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-27
SAVED THE FAST EXPRESS.
ROBBER TRAMPS BEATEN OFF.
AN ATTEMPT TO HOLD UP LAKE SHORE
TRAIN FAILS.
TRAINMEN OF A FREIGHT HAVE A DESPERATE
BUT SUCCESSFUL BATTLE WITH EIGHT
TRAMPs IN INDIANA-TwO OF THE
OUTLAWS CAPTITRED


But SUCCESSFUL BATTLE WITH EIGHT
TRAMPs IN INDrANA-Two or THE
OUTLAWS CAPTURED.
Goshen, Ind, Nov. 26.-This city was thrown
into fever Of excitement last night by a des-
perate attempt made. almost within the city
limits wreck the New-York fast express
on the Lake Shore road. which is due here at
1909 At 12 o'clock a shrill whstling in the
Lake Shore yards and from the water-works
plant. which is located close to the Lake Shore
freight depot. brought two Of the night police
and n number Of residents to the scene. They
found the first section Of No co. the Chicago
and New-York fast meat freight in the yards
and badly battered train crew. 1t was
soon learned from the daZed crew that two
attempts had been made to use the last ten
cars of the train TO carry out dastardly at
tempt to wreck No. u, the NewYork fast
press on the Lake Shore road The attempted
"hold-up'' was conducted a plan new in the
annals of train robbery. 1t was. however.
brought to unsuccessful end by the heroic
resistance Of the trainmen who fought
constant battle during the run of ten miles
from Elkhart here.
The first section Of No. go pulled out Of Elk
hart last night at 1923 with orders to run to
Ligonier without stopping. All seemed well
with the train. but when about a mile from Elk
hart the conductor. John Hckok. and two brake
men were attacked by band composed Of eight
burly tramps who 1t is since learned, boarded
the train at Elkhart and had been concealed be-
tween the cars. They overpowered the crew and
were proceeding to dsconnect the last ten cars
when the crew. assisted by the engineer and fire.
man. again secured control Of the train. A sec
ond attempt was made five miles further on. and
from that point into Goshen. run Of four miles,
a desperate fight was waged between the eight
robbers and the crew. Conductor Hckok. who
knew the imminent danger OF No IL running
into the freight encouraged the brakemen and
extra conductor. Campbell. who happened to
be on the train. and they waged a successful
fight until the train reached the Goshen yards.
The battle for the control Of the train was des-
perate for the last four miles and Conductor
Hickok was badly bruised and pummelled
also one OF the brakemen, who lives at Elk
hart. The robbers secured four watches and all
the money belonging to the crew.
The engineer whistled for help at this place
and officers were quickly upon the scene. That
the eight robbers who upon the train
when II arrived In the Goshen yards should es-
cape seems incredible. but such Is the fact:
Owing To the daZed condition Of the crew and
the ignorance Of those here as to the cause OF
the stopping and alarm. they all escaped. Two
subsequently captured. ana the SnerlH
and a posse are at present In hot pursuit OF an
other Henry Zimmerman was arrested within
the city limits. and. later In the morning. Will
lam Cone captured These two are now
I'm custody here. posse and Lake Shore de-
tectives securing the surrounding country
for the remaining six.
The plan. OF the robbers was one whrh would,
had ~ been successfully carried ont. have
caused great less of life and money Trey
were endeavorng TO leave eight or ten cars OF
the freight on one track into which they ex-
tod No
would dash. In the consequent wreck IL rs
surmised that the wreckers expected TO get
away with considerable booty from the express
car. The place where the first attempt was
made one mile this side Of Eikhart. was one
we'll adapted FOR that kind OF work. IL IL a
spa rsely settled location. and one OF the dark
est places on the Lake Shore road. There Is
rather sharp curve there. as Is also one not
far from this city.
No L. the fast express train. Is the same train
which was so successfully looted at kessler two
months ago and is "A very heavy train. never be-
ing made up of less than ten or eleven cars.
The two attacks have aroused the Lake Shore
officials and every means possible Is being taken
to get at the robbers In such a summary manner
as to discourage future attempts OF the kind
President John Newell came from Chicago al
noon to-day and was In conference with the at
,orneys Of the road. Messrs. Baker and Miller \
reward Of 1900 viii be- posted all over the sur
rounding country In the morning Tor the arrest
and conviction Of the eight robbers. or 5000 for
the arrest and conviction Ot any one or the'n
Henry Zimmerman denies everything. saying
that he came 10 Goshen from Elkhart on ,he
plug last night but the Inconsistency OF the
stories he tells are almost proof of his guilt The
conductor Of the Plug swears that he was not
on his train last night. Zimmerman also stated
that he bought his ticket at Elkhart ana pald -
ccnts while the regular fare ~ 30 cents Ills
homo Is I'm Kendallville. and he has been IN me
employ Of the Chicago and 81. Paul road In his
shoe were found four silver dollars. whirh was
the amount taken from the engineer. while Cone
had I'm his possession $2. the exact amount OF
which Conductor Hckok was robbed. Cone
claims Benton Iarbor as his home ana says ne
&c tramping 10 Fort Wayne In search of employ
ment He does not state. however why II IS
nccessary 10 tramp with sl2 in his pocket
feature Of the affair is that none OF me gang
.ioa weanons Of any kind which would make
n appear that II was "A band OF needy tramps
organized for the most dcspei ate kind of PUN
der The two who are In custody VIII say nttl.'
rhcv are hard looking specimens OF manhood.
strong and hearty. and desperate resistance was
offered by Cone when caught.