Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1894-09-22
A SURPRISE PARTY.
Train Robbers on the Santa Fe
Have Lead Reception.
TWO MEN SERIOUSLY SHOT
The Otiicfals Were Apprised OF the At
tempted Robbery and Plan Warm
Reception for the Bandits.

CORN, Mo-, Sept. 1S.-The Colorado &
Utah express ON the Santa Fe was held ul
by robbers at 3:30 a. m. today. AS the rail
road and express officials had a spy on th'
trail Of the bandits when they stopped thu
train, they WI re met by hail OF bucksho
and bullets. and it is said at least two art
dead in the surrounding woods, while AZ
many others rode for their rendezvous 2
miles away, iiidied with bullets. They sho
Dad" Prescott, the engineer, before they
even gave him n chance to hold up hi:
hands. Ills wounds, it is believed, will no
prove fatal.
When the tr iii lett Chicago at ) O'clock
last evening railroad anl express detect
ives, all walking arsenHl5, climbed on al
every station. Among them were Chlei
Detective J. J. Kinney of the Santa Fe
and J. a. Matthews, who has been acting
as spy for two weeks and getting news OF
the ropb' r. lI rs. The latter borongh,
news that the robbers cary in the day had
decided to I", We their hiding place near
Memphis at o:3) O'clock last night, and
make their third attempt TO get rich at the
expense OF the express company. They
expected % make q haul of at least $50 900.
At Fort Madison, on the Iowa division, Su-
perintendent Stockton OF Wells, Fargo ex-
Il sawed off Winchester that once belonged
to Bill Dalton. With him were four men.
Detectives Kinney AID Montgomery
boarded the engine. While Superintendent
Stockton an two good shots tarried in the
express car. In the f rward end Of the
smoking car, shut Oft by a PARTITION from
the rest of the car a doZ II men were
place. Each had gun. Every cartridge
was loaded especially for the event with a
dozen buckshot
The Surprise Party Complete.
At 2 O'Clock, when Sheriff Sailing Of Scot
land county climbed on board all the de-
tails of the surprise party were arranged.
According to the report brou sht by Mat
thews the spy would endeavor to b, the
one who tll5seI the train. Ii so a torpedo
would plec"de he swinging of the lantern.
Orders were given that no matter il every
one Of the robbers got away there was to be
no shooting to endaugcr the lie Of the spy,
who had, in fact taken his lie 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 muZz es of their guns
rrotruding just q trtle over the seats. Be
side them stood others with Winchesters
at half cock resting across their arms.
The Attack.
AS out from between two high embank-
ments, just one mile from CORN, sped the
train, there came the looked for signal and
not SO yards away was a swinging red
light Within 90 seconds the train was at
Il standstlll Out from the dense under
growth north Of the track came four forms.
the face OF each hidden by a black MASK.
One rushed to the engine almost before his
companions could reach the express car.
When within. 10 feet of the tender he
pointed his riff at DAD" Prescott the
white bearded engineer. and as he shouted
Hold up your hands, pulled the trigger.
Dad fell TO the floor with a bullet in his
right breast. With one bound Kinney
gained the top Of the tender, and bringing
his gun 10 II shoulder sent shower Of
shot almost INFO the face of the masked
man. How the fellow managed to move
six inches is a mystery, but he did. AID
ma &c Tor the woods The shot which laid
Engineer Prescott low was tie signal for a
iusilade, and also the signal for a hasty re-
treat Of the robbers to the shelter Of the
timber. They fired two shots but although
men were leaning from the car windows
and pulling triggers as fast as poSs bic,
while others were alter the robbers on foot
they failed to hit man. The place where
the horses were tied was soon found. The
cut nlLtnlng straps showed mat one man at
least had life enough to escape
The search for the dead and wounded
was postponed until daylight but the chase
after the one or more who escaped was
started within 10 minutes.
Passengers Badly Frightened.
1t is not likely that the passengers in the
rear end of the smoker, those who were
doing in the chair car and the half dozen
wakeful ones in the sleepers Will ever for
get their experience. With the first shot
every man near a window opened it and
looked out. Within second he drew his !
head in and dropped on the floor. The cry
train robbers went through the train. and |
women went down on their knees and |
screamed.
Twice before last nights attempt the |
bandits started for the spot selected Tor the |
robbery. Each time a copious fall Of rain
bailisd them.
The Santa Fe and Wells Fargo officials
received a tip of the contemplated RAID
nearly three weeks ago. and every night
since then not less than half a dozen secret
service men have been on the train until |
the danger point was passed.
Further Particulars.
w. L. Daniel, who advised The officers .!
ne plot. time and plac. Of the Santa Fe
train robbery, went last night With G. f.
Abrams, Link OvertieId anu Two others to
Iiorin. AS the train neared Gorin the
engineer noticed that the switch signal
light had been removed He heard the
torpedo eXploAe. saw the signal flag
waved and stopped the |. ain. Abrams, the
eader OF the gang. ran to the engineer and
;alled out, We've got you; nod up your
,ands." The engineer was Il little slow in
'esponding and Abrams shot him. Detec-
i've Kinney, who was concealed in the
ender, rose and shot Abrams in the
shoulders with a double barrelle. shot
gun loaded with buckshot. Abrams and
he other robbers started for the brush.
Abrams horse WAS killed. The officers
secured the brush, but did not find tho
'obbers.
Officers came to Memphis, got out war
ants, and loc ted Abrams and Overed
md brought them to Jail. Abrams Will
lie. The officers refuse to give the name
Of the two Others implicated. AL! are resi-
lents Of this county.