The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-09-22
of the two others implicated. Al are resi-
dents of this county.
TWO ATTEMPTS ABANDONED.
Rain Prevented the Bandits From At
lacking the Train

Rain Prevented the Bandits From At
lacking the Train.
Eleven nights ago the bandits, shortly
after 10 O'Clock. started to ride slowly across
the country. 1t was cloudy and they had
not gone over third of the distance when
the rain began to fall. Some were in favor
OF turning back at once, declaring they
were not going to run the chance of being
tracked by mud trail. Their objections
were overruled for the time being, but by
the time the cavalcade was within seven
miles of the railroad track it was apparent
to even the most foolhardy that discretion
was the better part of valor. The COM
mand to retreat was given and the process
sion returned. The next day TWO of De-
tective Kinney's men followed the trail for
five miles. From the indications they say
eight men were in tie party that night.
Last Saturday morning was the second
time the affair was billed to come off If it
had not been for the rain the attack would
have been made for in addition to the reg
ular prize carried in the express car on
the train was a big bundle of money to be
used by the Santa Fe in settling with some
employees for August but the rain came
down early and with two much vigor even
to permit the start.
Detective Kinney was a badly chagrned
man when the train passed the point at
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 skillfnlly constructed dugout in the
heaping tenderfui of coal was another of
his men. Inside the express car, behind an
innocent pile OF trunks and bundles of mer-
ehandise. which were in reality barricades
OF cotton, were seven men with loaded
Winchesters and couple of big revolvers.
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 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.
IL is evident also that they made a care
full study of the topography of the country.
For 10, 00O feet before the spot at which the
red light was swung across the rails, the
road winds on reverse curve through
cut with embellishments from 10 to 40 ieet
high. Then comes a little hill, followed by
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 calculation that after the nights BUSH
ness had been accomplished, two hours
hard riding would put every man safe from
pursuit.
The Railroad Was Ready.
Il is nearly three weeks since the Santa
Fe and Wells Fargo officials received a tip
that the raid was contemplated. Since then
the express car has beer a regular arsenal.
Every night at least half dozen secret
service men have climbed aboard at differ
emit points along the line east of Fort Mad-
son and scattered themselves in the day re-
Ginning chair and smoking cars. Soon after
that point was reached they would have
worked forward into the smoker not a man
exchanging word with the other, and be-
fore CORN was passed half of them had dis
appeared into the express car. This was
merely precautionary. Detective Kinney's
sny 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 OPP
Grafton next night.
The Conductors Story.
KANSAS Cry, Sept. 1S.-When the waylaid
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
OF their lives and for time thought il would
be their last. George Blue. conductor of
the train, in his official report made after
arriving at Kansas City, says:
i was IN the rear part of the train when
heard the answer to the Aagman's signal.
The train soon came to a standstll and in
a few minutes l heard gunshots. | hurried
back and sent out fiagman to protect the
rear of the train. Then the firing began
When | reached the ground l saw three
IN EN- by the side of the express car. One
fell TO the ground and / supposed he was
shot. The other men went in under the
car and escaped to the south They did
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 few feet 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 to |
have his wound looked after. The guards |
did nobly. They followed the robbers into |
the dense timber in the darkness and |
crowded them SO closely that they shot one |
Of their horses"