Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-09-28
BATTLE WITH DESPERADOES
Unsuccessful Attempt to Rob Fast Train
on the Illinois Central Road.

to rob the Chicago-NeW Orleans train
on the Illinois Central road near this
point last evening resulted in desper-
ate fight between train hands and the
desperadoes Three railway employees
were wounded and one of the three
robbers was shot, receiving a wound
that will prove fatal. The bandits were
then driven off, leaving their wounded
companion on the scene Of the con-
dict.
The train was heavy one and could
not keep up to the schedule time, ar
irving here about two and half hours
late, Yesterday afternoon three strang-
ers were noticed lounging around the
Illinois Central depot but nothing was
thought of it at the time, the belief
being that they were waiting for d pas
senger train to go out of the city. 1t IS
supposed that these were the robbers.
1t is believed that when the limited
=. pulled up here, the robbers got on the
front end Of the express car. When
the coal chute near here was reached,
where coal was taken on, they climbed
over the tender, ready to carry out
their plan of deviltry.
AS the train was about to start after
coaling, two of the outlaws confronted
Engineer Young and Fireman Nc
Donough and commanded them to stop:
"Don't move for your life," Kissed
one of the robbers; but the engineer
and fireman paid no heed to the
command, and made a spring for the
robbers. They were met with shots
from the revoivers in the hands of
the robbers which laid them low
for the time being. Engineer Lowe was
seriously wounded. He was shot twice,
one Of the bullets entering the shoulder
aud blowing through the arm down to
the elbow where it made it's exit and
the other penetrated the back and
lodged in the left hip. The fireman re-
the leg.
The two robbers then proceeded to
the express car where they demanded
admitrance, but were met with volley
from the express messenger and the
conductor of the train, Odum, who had
gone to the express car to see the mes
senger. Nolley after volley was fired
by both the besieged and besiegers until
the door was shot full Of holes. Final
Nv the bandits secured a sledge hammer
and broke in the door, and then began
q battle between the trainmen and rob-
bers. The former had erected barri
Cduo OF boxes ana express PACKAGES
and a regular fusillade commenced.
In the meantime one of the brake
men had gone to the rear and aroused
the passengers and asked those who
had firearms to come to the assistance
of the trainmen. Among the passen-
gers was an old-time brakeman named
Jake Sanders, of Duquoin. He had
been hunting and had a shotgun with
him. He Immediately proceeded to the
express car, shotgun in hand, and
on arriving there commenced firing on
the two robbers in the car who were
slowly but surely gaining the supremacy
over Conductor Odum and the express
messenger. One Of Sanders shots took
effect on one of the robbers and he sank
TO the floor of the car, bleeding pro-
fuseiy.
While Sanders was doing yeoman
service 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, and Sanders escaped
unhurt. When the wounded robber
fell to 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 Ccntralia and aroused the
marshal, who Immediately organized
searching parties. These are now
securing the surrounding country.
When the facts became known general
~ excitement was at high pitch, and
there was considerable talk OF lynching,
bat fortunately for the wounded man
the cooler heads in the party controlled
and he was taken to Jail, where a physi-
clan dressed his wounds. 1t is not
thought he can survive.
While the shooting in the express car
was going on, Conductor Odum was
slightly wounded in the hand. The
wounded robber, it is said, is known as
Daniel l.. Josephs. He carries card
from the Order of RailWaymen issued
from Chicago.
The limited always carried a lot of
valuable express matter. While the
express people will not talk on the sub
}ect of the robbery, positively declining
to state the amount which was on the
train, it is learned from areliable source
shat one OF the safes contained fully
$50, 900 in currency. 1t is believed
that the would-be robbers had
received information as to the amount
Of money i'll the car and that it was
their intention to blow open the safe
with dynamite. If the posse captures
E1IfG ntliei TWO IODD0IS III VIII piODdDly
90 hard with them, as excitement is at
y high pitch.
The wounded bandit in custody was
threatened with lynching unless he
made d full confession. Jonesis a Cath
ohc and a priest was introduced and
Jones then gave the names of the gang
axhom he claimed were named O'Dwyer,
Harding and Nichols. He also impli-
oat2d man by the name of Martin
from Duquoin whom he claimed
WAS not with the gang at the
time of the robbery. O'Dwyer's home
is in this city and his house was imne-
4liatelv surrounded and his surren-
@fe7 demanded His mother re-
fused admission to the searching par
ty and they kept guard over the house
uutil daylight when O'Dwyer gave