The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-09-21
Three Robbers Made an At
tack on the New Orleans
Limited Last Night.
FIERCE BATTLE WITH TRAIN HANDS.
One Robber Shot Through the Bcdy
They Were After $4,000
But Failed.

Central road was held up shortly after
eleven o'clock last night just outside this
! city, and in the battle which followed
between the three robbers ana the train
hands one of the robbers was mortally
wounded aud three of the train crew
were badly hurt. Tne thieves got moth
ing in the way OF booty aud all the grown
Inhabitants Of this place are on the hunt
for the daring thieves who got away.
Those who were hurt i'll the shooting
incident to the attack were Engin eer
Young. Conductor Odum. Fireman Nc
Dowell and robber, name not known.
The train held up left Chic1go at two
O'Clock yesterday afternoon aed reached
this CITY at HOS P. NJ. It's stop was very
short. but in that time three men, heavily
armed and carrying tools which later
came into play, boarded che frons end OF
The express car
The lights of Centralia's Sreets had
scarcely disappeared from view. and
Engineer Young had hardly pulled open
wide the throttle, when both Fireman
Mcdowell and the engineer heard noise
on the tender behind them. Both turned
IN alarm. Their fears were realized, for
staring them in The face were two big
revolvers.
Keep your mouths shut and stop the
machine, or We'll shoot" the robbers
cried.
A SHARP FIGHT.
The engineer and fireman were not
made of the stuff that fiuches at train
ROBBERS and were not even daunted by
recollection of the affair on the Lake
Shore only short time ago. There was
clear track ahead The two railroad
employees had hardly reached the foot OF
the coal heap when two Sheets OF flre
flashed in their faces and both fell
wounded ou the platforms connecting
cab and tender.
One of the masked robbers sprang over
the forms OF the bleeding men. aud, putt
ting his hand upon the lever, slowed up
the train. In a moment 1t stopped.
Around the cars were the shadows of
farming country hedgsd by few tall
trees, In the coaches the passengers
were all asleep, oblivious OF the plight OF
their train.
When lhe train had been stopped one
of the robbers ran back to the coaches,
aud, revolver in hand, stood guard over
Baggagemaster Armstrong and Brake
rnan Stacey The two other thieves
climbed ne top ofthe express car, la
which as lie messenger of the Amer
ican E. re- Company and Conductor
Odum ey were just beginning to
get curious as to the stopping of the
train when they heard furious pounding
on the express car door.
"Open tile door or we'll blow you up,"
they heard a man cry.
Their reply was shot from revolver.
This was followed by another and
another. The msn outside the car took
part in the fusialade. The attack took
a new turn. Tue men in the Car had
emptied their revolvers and were reload
lug them.
THE ROBBERS NOVEL PLAN.
In this lull the robbers tried novel
plan for which they had prepsred. They
had graphing hooks:-Tnese they fas-
tened on the top of the express car and
with ropes lowered themselves to the TOD
of the door. This was done to avoid
being a target for the bullets that soon
commenced to pour through the side
of the coach from the inside. The
railroad men were aiming low. while
serenely alb I'VE them the two robbers
were welding heavy sledges. The door
an opening large enough for the robbers
TO enter showed itself. Through this
they leaped, and with revolvers in hand
faced both conductor aud messenger
similarly equipped,
BATTLE ROYAL.
Then followed battle royal. The
messenger and conductor were plucky.
and partly bnrricaded by boxes and
packages. fred at the robbers as fast as
they could shoot. Tne thieves fired, TOO.
but they were al a disadvantage.
During the shooting the conductor re-
eeived slight pistol wound in the hand.
Neither side seemed to be able to con-
ouer when help came TO the railroad
employees. The promiscuous shooting
had aroused the passengers ana they.
terrified aud just waking, had been busy
concealing their vaiuahles.
RoBBEI SHOT THROUGH THE BODY.
On the train. deadheading bis way,
was p. j. Sanders, a brakeman on the
road. He came to the res.ue of the con-
ductor and messenger AIMED with shot
n "a attacked f1a rOaf1Arq frarn a
rear, and though in turn attacked by the
third robber. managed to shoot one of
those In the express car through the
bo y. The others, seeing their COM
Lanion fall bleeding, took to their heels
and got away through the trees and
fields.
One of the train bands hurried back to
Centralfa 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.
Tie trail was hot. and they had good
hope and splendid prospect of catching
the men this morning.
Had the passengers on the train known
how few the robbers We're, it Is doubtful
If they woul have remained terrorizsd.
They showed their disgust when they
were told how easily they had been
held MP.
$4,000 IN THE EXPRESS CAR,
The officials of The American Express
Company were notified early this mora
Ing of the aItempte robbery aud two of
them left for CenIralia at three O'clock on
the fast mail, 1t Is not known how much
money there was in the express messen-
GERS car. but it is said the amount would
exceed $4,000. 1t is believed by the
railroad employees hat the robbers were
three men who had been seen lettering
around Centralia all day Tuesday
Monday night they wsre driven off the
e. 11GA