Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1894-09-22

which, according TO the program, it should
have been tagged. He was on the engine
clad in a suit OF blue jumpers and looked
for all the world like an apprentice to the
art Of firing an engine. Snugly ensconsed
in a skillfully constructed dugout in the
heaping tenderful Of coal was another 0!
his men. Inside the express car, behind an
innocent pile of trunks and bundles of mer-
ehandse. which were in reality barrica les
OF cotton, were seven men with loaded
Winchesters and couple of big rcyolvers.
Selected an Ideal Spot.
The cunning Of the hold-up craftsman
was shown in the selection of this spot for
turning the little trick, as the robbery was
professionally designated. For 10 miles
there is no night telegraph station until La
Plata is reached and there is no stop there
Hurdland, which is just 10 miles west of the
last named station, is a switch into which
| the train runs every morning and waits for
the east bound express to pass. The men
who planned the robbery figured that they
had the train and its treasure in pocket
and would have all the time necessary, not
only to rifle the express car, but to relieve
the passengers of their valuables.
1t is evident also that they made care
full study of the topography Of the country.
For TO- OOU feet before the spot at which the
red light was swung across the rails the
AokAN
cut with embankmants from 10 to 40 feet
high. Then comes little hill. followed by
a stretch of track almost on the level with
the surrounding country. On either side
of the right-of-Way are dense clumps of
oak and hickory. 1t was in the middle of
the timber that the horses were hidden
good, strong-limbed animas-and it was
the calcu alton that after the nights busi-
ness had been accomplished |, two hours
hard riding would put every man safe from
pursuit.
The Railroad Was Ready.
II is nearly three week, since the Santa
Fe and Wells Fargo officials received a tip
that the raid was contemplated. Since then
The express car has beer regular arsenal.
Every night at least half dozen secret
service men have climbed aboard at differ
ent points along the line east of Fort Mad
son and scattered themselves in the day re
cllning chair and smoking cars. Soon after
that point was reached they would have
worked forward into the smoker, not man
exchanging word with the other, and be
fore Gorin was passed half of them had dis
appeared into the express car. THIS was
merely precautionary. Detective kinney's
soy gave him "a hours notice Of the two
premeditated raids stopped by the rain, and
then the full force were on hand. But the
railroad and express people were taking no
chances. When the danger point had been
passed, the men were dropped off at differ
ent stations, working back east along the
road in the daytime and repeating the op-
Grafton next night.
The Conductors Story.
KANSAS Cry, Sept 18.-When the way laid
train reached this city the Kansas City
passengers were not 10th to leave after their
night of suspense. Several as they ex-
pressed themselves, passed the worst night
o! their lives and for a time thought it would
be their last George Blue, conductor Of
the train, in his official report made after
arriving at Kansas City, says:
Il was N the rear part of the train when
| heard the answer to the hagman' s signal.
The train soon came to standstll and i'll
a few minutes l heard gunshots. | hurried
back and sent out tlagman to protect the |
rear of the train. Then the firing tegan
When | reached the ground | saw three
men by the side of the express car. One
fell to the ground and ! supposed he was
shot. The other men went in under the |
not get away Immediately, however, for |
they were surrounded by guards, who be-
gan shooting rapidly. On the other side /
Of the track there is dense timber, and the |
robbers had only time to run a few teet to
get under cover | found that William
Prescott was shot in the right shoulder,
and | only remained few minutes when | |
pulled the train into the station so as 10
have his wound looked after. The guards
lid nobly. They followed the robbers into
The dense timber in the darkness and
crowded them so closely that they shot one
of their horses"