Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-22
BANDITS FOILED.
AN EX.BEAEENAE'S SHOT GUN DOES SPLRN-
DID SERVICE
A Holiup on the Illinois Central Which Fails 10
Bring Booty to the WoUld-Bs Robbsrs-One Of
Them Wounded AID 10 Jail, Makes q Con-
ieSsiOn,


night with far different results, hOWev-
or, than the recent robberies on the
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern at
Kessler, Ind, aud Mineral Range road
at Hancock, Mich.
The attempted robbery here, for the
bandits went away empty-handed, oc-
Cured on the Illinois Central at the coal
shute just south Of the city. The train
which was attacked by the outlaws was
the ChicagO-NeW Orleans limited, which
left Chicago at two o'clock yesterday
afternoon. The train was heavy one
and could not keep up 10 schedule time
arriving here about two aud one-haI
hours late.
Yesterday afternoon three stragers
were noticed Longing around the HI
nOis Central depot, but nothing was
thought Of IL at the time, tho oelleI
being that they were waiting Tor pas
senger train 10 go out OF the city. II
Is Supposed that these were the ROB-
bers. 1t is believed that when the
limited pulled up here the robbers got
90 the front end OF the express car and
when the coal shute was reached where
coal was taken on, they climbed over
the tender ready TO carry out their
plan OF jeyiltry.
As the train was about to start after
coallng two Of the outlaws confronted
engineer Young and fireman Nc
DOnough and commanded them 10 stop.
Don't move for your life" Kissed one
Of the robbers, but the engineer and
fireman paid no heed TO the command
aud made q spring for the robbers.
They were met with shots from the re-
yolvers in the hands of the robbers,
which laid them low for the time be-
ing. Engineer Young was seriously
wounded. He was shot twice, one or
the bullets entering the shoulder and
blowing through the arm down 20 the
elbow where 10 made It's exit, and the
other penetrated the back and lodged
in the left hip. The fireman received a
shot in the head aud one in the leg.
The two robbers then proceeded TO the
express car, where they demanded ad-
mistance, but were met with a volley
from the express messenger and con-
ductor Of the train Otum, who had gone
70 the express car 20 see the messenger.
Volley after volley was fired by both the
besieged aud besiegers until the door
was shot full of holes. Finally the ban
dts secured q Sledge hammer and broke
fin the door, and then began another
battle between the trainmen and the
robbers. The former had erected a
barricade Of boxes and express pack
ages, and irregular fuSiiade commenced.
In the meantime one of the brakemen
had gone 20 the -ear and aroused the
passengers and asked those who had
firearms 20 come 20 the assistance OF
the trainmen. Among the passengers
was an Old-time brakeman named Jack
Sanders. He had been hunting and had
a shot gun with him. He Immediately
proceeded to the express car, gun In
hand, and on arriving there commenced
firing on the two robbers. One OF San
ders' shots took effect ia one Of the rob
bers and he sank to the floor OF the car
ding proiusely.
While Sanders was doing yeOman
vice the third robber, who had kept
in the shade up TO this time, came out
and commenced firing at Sanders from
the shadows of the coal chute. His aim
was bad, however, aud Sanders escaped
unhurt. When the wounded rOb0er fell
10 the floor the two others, seeing that
the game was up, started on run and
disappeared in the darkness.
As soon as the outlaws had taken
their departure one Of the train hands
went back TO Centralia and aroused
the marshal, who Immediately organ
lied searching parties. These are now
securing the surrounding country
The wounded robber was taken TO
Jail, where a physician dressed his
wounds.
IL is not thought he can survive
The wounded robber Is d. L. Jones.
He carries a card from the Order Of
Railway Trainmen issued by one Of the
Chicago lodges, and be also has a
switchman's card from the AtchisOn,
Topeka and Santa Fe az Kansas City.
The limited always carried lot Of
valuable express matter. While the
express people will not talk on the sub
jet Of the robbery, positively declining
20 state the amount which was on the
train. 10 is learned from reliable
sources that one OF the safes contained
fully $4,000 in currency.
The robbers induced some novel tao
iics 10 their work. When the men In
the express GER had emptied their revolt
vers and were relOading them the rob
bers tried a plan for which they had
prepared. They had graphing hooks.
These they fastened on top OF the eX-
press car and with ropes lowered them
70 the TOP OF the door. This done TO
avoid being a target for the bullets that
soon commenced 10 pour through the
side of the coach from the inside. The
railroad men were aiming, too, while
serenelv above the two robbers were
welding a 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
leaDad. and reyOlyers In hand, faced
the conductor and messenger, both sim
ilarly equipped. Then followed the
battle royal, the issue Of which was In
doubt until the time the appearance OF
Brakeman p. j. Sanders and his trusty
shotgun.
The wounded bandit in custody, on
being threatened with lynching, made
o full confession, duplicating three
others in the affair Their names are
O'Dwver, Harding and Nichols.
O'Dwyer has since been arrested, ana
Is now in jail with jones.
Jones was interviewed in the jail.
He said:
'.Mv homo is in oxford Mills, la.
have a father and two brothers living
there. came from ST. Louis 20 Cen
tralia with James Harding, OF Danyille,
MS, and Charlie; O'Dwyer, OF this
Mace, and ascertained that the Chicago
limited would be the most profitable
'hold up Of any Of the trains coming
into this city. Arrangements were
- IN meat IN the home of O,Dwyer