Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-21
DESPERATE FIGHTING
Train Robbers Beaten Off Near Cen.
tralia, Ill.
One LOST HIS LIFE In TEE FRAY.
PIucky Trainmen Who Refused to
Be Held.
BRAKEMAN SANDERS SHOT.

CENTRALIA, Ill, Sept 1.-THE New
Orleans limited train on the Illinois Central
road was held UP shortly after II O'Clock
last night just outside the city. and in the
battle which followed between the robbers
and 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 all the grown in
habitants Of this place are on the hunt for
the two daring thieves who got away.
Those who were hurt In the shooting In
cident to the attack were: Engineer Young.
Conductor Odum, Fireman Mcdowell; rob-
ber's name unknown.
The Attempt.
The train held UP left Chicago yesterday
and reached this city at II so pm. Its 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 lights OF Contra
las streets had scarcely disappeared from
view, and Engineer Young had hardly open
ed wide the throttle. when both Fireman
Mcdowell and the engineer heard a noise
on the tender behind them Both turned
in alarm.
Their fears were realized, for staring
them in the face were two big revolvers.
machine, or we'n shoot" the robbers cried.
Tie engineer and fireman were not made
Of the stun that hinches at train robbers.
and were not even daunted by the recollec-
a short time ago. Both sprang at the rob-
bers, when two shots of fire flashed In their
faces. and both enginemen fell wounded In
the gangway of the engine.
One of the masked robbers sprang over
the forms OF the bleeding men and stopped
the train. In the coaches the passengers
were all asleep. oblivious OF the plight of
the train. When the train had been stopped
one Of the robbers ran back to the coaches
and. revolver In hand, stood guard over
Baggagemaster Armstrong and Brakeman
Stacey. Two other thieves climbed to the
top Of the express car in which were the
messenger of the American Express Com
pany and Conductor Odum.
They were Just beginning to get curious
as to the stopping Of the train when they
heard furious pounding on the express
"Open the door or wen blow you up,"
they heard q man cry.
A Brisk Battle.
Their reply was a shot from Q revolver.
This was followed by another and another
The men outside the car also took part in
the fusillade.
The attack then took q new turn. The
men in the car had emptied their revolvers
ana were reioading them. In this lulu the
NSAc pAC0 . HONtl pldn IOr which tney
had prepared They had grappiing hooks.
These they fastened on the top of the ex-
press car and with ropes lowered them
selves to the top Of the door. This was
that soon commenced to pour through the
side Of the coach from The inside The
ranro4n men were aiming low, while serene
ABOVE them the two robbers Were wieid-
ing heavy sledge The door did not stand
the assault and soon an opening larre
enough for the robbers to enter showed it.
seiI: through this they leaped and. revol-
vers In hand, faced the Conductor and mes
senger. both similarly equipped.
Then followed a battle royal The mes
senger and conductor were plucky and mart
guarded by boxes and packing. fired at
the robbers as fast as they could shoot
The thieves fired too, but they were AZ a
disadvantage. During the shooting the CON
auctor received slight pistol wound IN the
nAno. Neither side seemed to be able "a
employees. e i"Aio@o
The shooting had aroused the passengers
and they, terrified and Just Weakening un-
n0o oeen ously concealing their valuables
He Paid His Way.
On the train, dead-heading his way. was
r. ). sanders. a brakeman on the road. He
came TO the rescue OF the conductor and
,es,sengeI .aa,., armed with q shot gun. He at
lacked the robbers from the rear. and
tnough In turn attacked by the third rnh'
per, he managed to shoot one of those tn
.ne express car through the body. The 9TH
ers, seeing their companion fall bleeding.
the fields. ooen
One of the train hands hurried hack n
Centralis with the news Of the robbery nd
ns uo"n was aroused In half an hour
posses or men were beating the country
near the place where the train was held ur
IN a hunt for the fugitives. The trail was
not and they had good hope ana splendid
prospects OF catching the men this morn.
Ing Had the passengers on the train tnon,,
now few the robbers were II is doubtfuI 4,
tney would have remained terrorfzed They
showed their disgust when they were told
now easily they had been held un
The Robber Fatally wounded.
CHICAGO. Sept. H--The officials Of the
American Express Company were notified
early this morning Of the attempted robbery
ana two OF them left for Central,a at ,
O'Clock on the fast mail II is not known
how much money was In the exnress 49,
sengers care, but IL is said that the amo,n,
would exceed $4,000. 1t is believed bv ths
railroad employees that the robbers wert
@ .neee men VINO had been seen lettering
GROUND the Centralia depot all day Tuesday,
Monday night they were driven on me
same train Just after II left Centralia- One
OF them was heard to remark that the mex,
time they would be more successful
Inc express company officials rece,yed a
message early this morning saying that the
wounded robber could not live. as he WAS
enot through the body.
brakeman Sanders leveled a shot gun a,
nim ana hred point blank. He was riddled
with shot and fell TO the floor of the car
bleeding and crying for mercy
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 Daniel Jones and a travelling card
from Chicago order of railway trainmen,
issued August "a, also a switchman's card.
Issued by the Santa Fe route at Kansas
City. He gave the names OF the other two
robbers as Martin Nichols and ]. Hardin.
There was some talk by the passengers OF
hanging Jones to a telegraph pole. but Gen.
tralia officers protected him and locked him
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 center of the back.
The fireman was hit in the chin and fore
head, the ball lodging In the neck.
Conductor Odum received painful
wound In his right hand. All Of the train
crew live at Centralia.
The Other Robbers Caught.
CENTRALIA, Ill. Sept. 1.-Martin Nichols
and James Hardin were captured early this
morning in a cornfeld not far from the
scene of the hold-up. A fourth man. whose
name is yet unknown to the railway off,
cials was caught about 6 o'clock this morn
ing at Odin, q town about ten miles north
Of here.
When Nichols and Harding were cap
tured a great crowd of the townspeople
of Centralia had gathered about the depot,
and the prisoners Were brought in tha