Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-14
OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION MADE.
Graphic Descriptions OF Conductor Bird
song and Engineer Gallagher.

Major Myers ordered Messrs. Birdsong,
conductor, and Gallagher, engineer OF the
robbed train, TO report at his office yes
terday afternoon. and. assisted by Mr..
W. c. Preston. one Of the attorneys for
the road. he made q rigid and close in
quiry into tho proceedings Of Friday
Night.
Mr Gallagher was first questioned, and
told a frank, straightforward. and com
prehcnsive story. He said that after leav-
ing the drawbridge he had increased
his speed. and was looking straight ahead
Ills fireman got down from his seat TO
fix the fire. when hls (Gallaghcr's) atten-
ton MAS attracted by seeing the fireman
throw his hands up. He, at the same
time exclaimed, oh Mercy" II turned
my head 10 the rear immediately said
Mr.. Gallagher, "0nd found a man about
i've feet ten inches IN height, broad shout
dcred dressed in very ordinary garb, and
with a red bandanna handkerchief con
cealing his face below the eyes, standing
behind me with pistol pointing directly
at my head. He ordered me 10 shut on
and l complied without any hesitation.
Another man came over the tender right
behind the FIRST one and he covered my
fireman. AS soon as the train vas brought
To a halt they ordered us 10 get down and
y. Ilen lRaiNIiAS Us u li4G SIiANiiS-
car, they stopped us on the side Of the
embanhment. l started up this. but thCy
called me back. ard directed us TO turn
our gee toward the rear Of the train.
heard some one al this time say, Dyna-
mite them and almost instantly ! heard
a deaftninG report. Immediately subse-
quent 10 this report Captain BlrdsonS
came out on the platform Of the smoking
car and hOleret for his Winchester.
Show your Winchester On you. | want
4 captain anyhow. | heard one of the
men behind me say, but didn't turn TO
SEQ which one.
DON'T SHOOT. CAPTAIN"
"Then Captain BirisCns pointed his
pistol at ne and started 10 shoot. The
moon was shining. and l could see him
very distinctly | called out to him.
Don't shoot. Captain; this Is me, Frank!
Throw up your hands was all the re-
Spouse got. and 1 again called out 10 him.
This time he recognized my voice and
lowered his pistol. | had heard om'nous
mutteiings from my rear-guard, and l
pleaded with Captain Birdsong 10 20 In.
telling him that unless he did he would
De killed.
'"rhe TWO men At my back then left me,
and went 10 the front, telling me, now
ever. 70 call out II l noticed any hostile
movement among the passengers, making
my life the penalty for failure 10 90 so.
In few moments they returned ana
taking my rremas and myself marched
us back 10 our engine. and making me
get up In the Gao, ordered me 10 jar
back 1 did as directed. and the fire.
man uncoupled tho engine from :he train:
Then / was ordered TO dismount, ana
tho two msn--ths only ones j saw du-
ring the whole oceurrence-boarded the
engine. They asked IL there was any
thing We wanted from the cab. and l
replied that had nothing In there. other
than my glove. One OF than said he
wanted 10 use that himself, but the other
one made him give It &c me. The one
who had been doing the talking princi-
pally iorked open the throttle like an
old hand at the business. and the engine
moved Off Just ~ It was going. one OF
the men threw o pistol to me. which.