The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-09-22
A SURPRISE PARTY.
Train Robbers on the Santa Fe
Have a Lead Reception.
TWO MEN SERIOUSLY SHOT.
rhe Omcials Were Apprised of the AT
tempted Robbery apd Plan warm
Reception for the Bandits.

CORN. No., Sept. 18-The Colorado "
Utah express on the Santa Fe was held up
bv robbers at $3.50 o. IN. today. AZ the rail-
road and express officials had spy on the
trail of the bandits when they stopped the
train. they were met by hail OF bucksnot
aud bullets, and-it is said at least TWO are
dead in the surrounding woods, While as
many others rode for their rendezvous, q
miles away, ridd;ed with bullets. They shot
dad" Prescott, the engineer, before they
even gave him chance to hold up ms
hands. His wounds, it is believed, will not
When the train left Chicago at 5oclock
last evening railroad and express detect
ives. all walking arsenals, climbed on a.
every station. Among them were Chiei
Detective J. J. Kinney of the Santa Re
and J. A. Matthews, who has been acting
an q spy for two weeks and getting news OF
the robbers plans. The latter brought
news that the robbers early in the day had
decided to leave thoir hiding place near
Memphis at $3.50 o'clock LAST night, and
make their thru attempt to get rich at the
expense of the express company. dney
At Fort Madison. on the Iowa division, ou'
perintendent Stockton Of Wells. Fargo ex.
press got into the treasure Car. lie carried
a sawed off Winchester that once belonged
to Bill Dalton. With him were four men.
Detectives Kinney and Montgomery
boarded the engine while Superin :endent
Stockton and two good shots tarried IN Inc
express car. In the forward end OF the
smoking car; shut Oft by PARTITION from
the rest of the car. u doz men were
placed. E,ch had gun. Every cartridge
was loaded especially for the event with
dozen buckshot. 5,...s..g,.
The Surprise Party C"mpiete.
At2 clock, when Sheriff SAILING OF Scot
land county climbed on board oil the de-
tails of the surprise party were arranged.
According 10 the report brought by Mat
thews the spy would endeavor TO bs the
one who tagged the train. 1t so torpedo
would precede the swinging of the lantern .
Orders were, given that no .n,atter.if every
one Of the robbers got away there was to be
no shooting to endanger the lie OF the spy,
who had, in fact. taken his Ii e in his hands
in order to Illustrate the attempted robbery.
In the little compartment filled with the
armed men the lights were out and the
windows up. In each seat were TWO men
sitting sideways. the muzzes OF their guns
protruding Just trhe over the seats. Be-
side them stood others with Winchesters
ut half cock resting across thu ir arms.
The Attack.
Az out from between two high embank-
msnts, Just one mile from CORN, sped the
train, there came the looked. for signal. and
not SO yards away was swinging red
light. Within 20 seconds the train was at
. stsndstiii. Out from the dense under.
growth north of the track came four forms.
the face of each hidden by black mask.
One rushed to the engine almost before his
companions could reach the express car.
When withiI 10 feet of the tender be
pointed his rifle at dad" Prescott, the
white bearded engineer. and rs he shouted
'hold up your hands" pulled the trigger.
DAD fell to the floor with bullet in his
right breast. With one bound kinney
gained the top of the tender, and Lringing
his gun 10 his shoulder sent shower OF
shot almost into the face of the masked
man. How the fellow managed to move
six inches is a mystery, but he did. a:d
made for the WOODS The shot which laid
Engineer Prescott low was the signal for
fusiiade, and also the signal for nasty re.
treat OF the robbers to the shelter OF the
timber. They fired two shots, but although
men were leening from the car windows
and pulling triggers Us fast as possible,
while others were after the robbers on foot,
they failed to hit man. The place where
the horses were tied was soon found. The
cut hitching straps showed that one man at
least had life enough to escape.
was postponed until daylight, but the chase
after the one or more who escaped was
started within 10 minutes.
Passengers Badly Fri. htsned.
Its not likely that the passengers in the
rear end of the smoker, those who were
DOING in the chair car and the half dt z N
wskeful ones in the slesPefs Will ever for.
sverv man near q window opened it and
looked out. Within second he drew his
head In and dropped on the floor. The cry
srrain robbers" went through the train, and
womsn went down on their knees and
Twice .hsfora. Last iehts-- attempt tlle
bandits startSd for the spot selected Tor the
robbery. zach time coPiops fall Of rain
': IS. s sSsa T.au, well. Fargo official.
received q tlE ofsehs: contemplated rsad
nearly t6ree S5sks 16o. aud every night
aimee then p6S Ness th6o half dozen secret
service me 6avs been on the train until
the danger Point was passed. K
waaAer Particulars. z
w. E. D2nieI. who advised the officers oI
the plot. time and place Of the Santa Fe
train robbery. went last night with G. Il.
Abrams, Link Overfield and two others to
CORN. As the train neared CORN the
engineer noticed that the switch signal
Iisht mud been removed. He heard the
torpedo explode. saw the signal flag
waved and stopped the train. Abrams, thu
leader of the gang. ran to the engineer and
called out. We've got you; hold up your
hands," The engineer was little slow in
tive Kinney, who was concealed in the
tender, rose'1snd shot Abrams in the
shoulders with u double barrellsl shot
gun loaded With buckshot. Abrams and
the other robbers started :fof the brush.
Abrams horse was killed.. The officers
secured the brush. but did not find tht
robbers,
OHicsrs came to Memphis, got out war.