Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-12-02
A FIENDISH ATTEMPT

| s"oh prevented ny Brave Train
Crew-A Fight Against Odds-Escape OF
the wonid-Be Wreckers--Two Arrests.
GOSHEN, Ind, Nov. 27.-This city was
thrown into fever OF excitement
Saturday might by desperate at
tempt, made almost within the city
limtsto wreck the New York fast ex-
press on the Lake Shore, road, which
Is due here at 12:0a. At IL o'clock a
shrill whistling in the Lake Shore
railroad yards. and from the water.
works plant, which is located very
close to the Lake Shore freight depot,
brought two of the night police and q
number of citizens to the scene. They
found the first section of No GO, the
Chicago and New York fast meat
freight train in the yards and badly
battered up train crew.
1t was soon learned from the appar.
emily dazcd crew that two attempts
had been made to use the last ten cars
OF the train to carry out a dastardly
attempt to wreck No. l2, the New
h,ftS fast express on the Lake Shore
road. The city was quickly thrown
into a fever of excitement, as the at
tempted hold-up was conducted on a
plan singularly new in the annals of
modern train robbery. 1t was, how
ever, brought to an unsuccessful end
by the heroic resistance of the train
men, who fought constant battle
| during the run of ten miles from Elk.
hart here.
Attacked by Eight Tramps.
The first section of No. 60 pulled out
of Elkhart at 1923 p. IN. with orders
to run to Ligonier without stop All
seemed well with the train, but when
about mile from Elkhart, the con-
drctor, John Hickok, and two brake
men, were attacked by band COM
posed of eight burly tramps, who it is
since learned, boarded the train at
Elkhart and had been concealed be-
tween the cars. They overpowered the
crew and were proceeding to discon-
meet the last ten cars when the crew,
assisted by the engineer and fireman,
again secured control of the train. A
second attempt was made five miles
further on, and from that point into
Goshen, a run OF four miles, dcsper-
ate fight was waged between the eight
robbers, and the crew.
Desperate Fighting for -Four Miles.
Conductor Hickok, who knew the inn
minent danger No. l2 was in, of run
ming into the freight, encouraged the
brakemen and an extra conductor,
Campbell, who happened to be on the
train, and they waged successful
fight until the train reached the
Goshen yards.
The battle for the control OF the
train was desperate for the last four
miles, and Conductor 'IIiclok was
badly bruised and pummeled, as was
also one of the brakcmen, who resides
at Elkhart. The robbers secured four
watches, and all the money belonging
10 the crew. The engineer whistled
for help and officers were quickly
the scene.
That the eight robbers who were
upon the train when il arrived in the
Goshen yards should escape seems in
credible but such is the fact. Owing
to the dazcd condition of the crew and
'tc iSbo hh,S -. So a. -
cause of the stopping and alarm, they
all escaped. Two were subsequently
cap,nreA. and the sheriff and a posse
are at present in hot pursuit of an
other. Henry Zimmerman was ar.
rested within the city limits and later
in the morning William Cone was cap
tured. These two are now in custody
here.
Securing the Country for the bandits.
A posse of officials and Lake Shore
detectives are securing the surround
ing country for the remaining six. The
plan of the robbers was one which
would, had it been successfully carried
ont, incurred great loss of life and
money. They were endeavoring to
leave eight or ten ears of the freight
on the track, which they expected No. II,
which was following close after, would
dash into. In the consequent wreck it
is 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 Elk
hart, was one singularly well adapted
for that kind of work. 1t is sparse
ly.settled location, and one of the
darkest places on the Lake Shore road.
There is rather sharp curve there, as
is also one not far from this city.
No. l9, the fast express, is the same
train which was SO successfully looted
at Kessler two months ago, and is a
very heavy train, never being made up
of less than ten or eleven cars.
The Lake shore OHicia's Aroused.
The two attacks have aroused the
Lake Shore officials, and every means
possible will be taken to apprehend and
punish the robbers in such a manner
as to discourage future attempts of the
kind. President John Newell came
from Chicago at noon yesterday and
was in conference with the attorneys
of the road. Messrs. Baker & Miller.
A reward of $4,000 will be posted all
over the surrounding country Tor the
arrest and conviction of the eight rob-
bers, or $500 for the arrest and convic.
ton of any one of them.
The Captured Robbers.
Henry Zimmerman denies every
thing, saying that he came to Goshen
from Elkhart on the passenger train
Saturday 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 Saturday night.
Zimmerman said he bought his ticket
at Elkhart and paid twenty-five cents,
| for it, while the regular fare is thirty
cents. His home is in Kendallville,
and he has been in the employ of the
Chicago & st. Paul road. In his shoe
was found four silver dollars, which
was the amount taken from the engi-
neer, while Cone had in his possession
s12, the exact amount of which Con-
ductor Hickok was relieved.
Cone claims Benton Harbor as his
home and claims he is tramping to
Fort Wayne in search of employment
He does not state, however, why it is
necessary to tramp with sla in his
pocket
| An Alleged Embexxler.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, Nov. 2T.--At the
instance of the Indianapolis police Ed