The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-10-22
WRECKED AND ROBBED.
A Missouri Pacific Train Switched
Onto q Blind Siding In the
Territory
Ran Into somo Freight Cars and
Then Became Easy Prey for
BandltA
Two white Msn and Half Dossa nslf
Breeds Made Up the rArty OF
Robbers.


breeds Made Up the PArty OF
Hobbsn.
Wagner. l. T., Oct. 2i.-The Kansas .
City a Memphis express, which left
here at $3.50 last night, was wrecked and
robbed by the Cook gang OF despera-
does at Correta, a blind siding Ave
miles south OF here. The train was
running about twenty miles an hour.
and when within n hundred feet OF tho II
hwitch n man came out from behind the
embRnkment and threw the switch OF
the side track, running the train into
"A string OF empty cars. Engineer Jas
Harris applied the air brakes and re-
versed the engine, The robbers com
menced firing at the engine and
coaches, As son as the train stopped
two OF the robbers commando the en-
gineer and fireman 10 come down. and
az soon aa they had dismounted
marched them In front OF them 10 the
baggage car. Here they forced Express
Messenger Ford to open the doors by
perf0rating the side OF the car with bull
let's. Meanwhile two more OF the rob-
bers had taken up positions at the rear
end OF the sleeper 10 prevent anyone
escaping. Two OF the others were on
the end platform between the smoker
and the baggage car, and two more on
the platform between the first and Sec
ond coaches. all keeping up a continual
firing. The two robbers In the express
car were meanwhile rnnsacking the
car. securing all the money In the local
safe. They commanded Ford to open
the through safe, but when he ex-s
plalned that the safe was locked at the
main office and not opened until IL
reached it's destination. they left the
car.
The two on the front platform started
through the coach demanding money
and valuhbles. AS soon as they reach
ed the rear end OF the coach the two
men on that platform started through
the second coach. Whenthey were about
half way through n freight train fol-
lowing behind whistled and Bill Cook.
the leader. who had all the time re-
mained outside issuing commands.
swearing at the passengers and shoot 7
Ing, called for all hands 20 come out.
The men on the cars jumped out and
when all we're on the ground fred a
last volley at the train and disappeared
In tho darkness.
There were eight or ten men in the
party. Two OF them were white and the
others were half-breeds. Jack Mahara.
advance agent for MaharGs minstrela,
was hit in the forehead BY bullet ana
dangerously. II not fatally wounded
Walter Barnes. of Van Buren,. Ark,
was also slightly injured by bullet
striking him In the cheek. Special Of
/ flcers Hemlick and Dickson, OF the Mis-
souri Pacific. were on the train, and
also Deputy Marshals Bruner and Casa
mere. but they were covered by Win
chesters In the hands OF the bandits be-
fore they had time 10 make a move.
The train was backed up 20 this place
for assistance and 20 give the injured
medical attention. The entire side OF
the train was riddled with bullets. The
engine cab wsa shot 10 pieces. even the
| steam Ruage and lamp being shot
away. and the ground around the wreck
was covered with empty shells. II was
a miracle that many lives were not lost.
as fully 200 shots were fred
The Missouri Pacific Immediately
started special train from Little Rock
to carry Superintendent Mckee. and
picking up deputy marshals. United
| States Agent Wisdom, OF Muskogec,
has ordered all Indian police to report
for duty, and win take q train early In
the morning. Conductor w. Duncan.
in charge OF the robbed train. was in
terviewed. and said; 81 was In the
sleeper when we struck the cars on the
side track. l thought Il was n head
end collision. and knowing we were
closely followed by a freight train. I
| grabbed "A red lamp and started back
| to flag. When l reached the rear end
l was confronted by two men, who or
dered me back into the car. told them
we were closely followed by freight
and would be run into, and asked them
90 let me go back and flag. one OF the
men replied, Well. go on and hurry up
/ started back as fast as / could. but
being troubled with asthma, ! could
not go very fast. Two men began FIR
Ing at me and told me 90 go faster"
Express Messenger Ford declined 90
say anything further than that the
robbers got everything. they could lay
hands on outside OF the through safe.
The mail car was not molested. The
| loss OF the express company will not ex-
coed $500, as instructions had been is-
sued 20 all agents In the territory 10
receive no money or valuables for this
train, and only company money remit
ted by local agents was carried out
side the through safe. Six men did
the work, and seemed not the least bit
afraid OF being captured.
Four armed men called at the section
|
OF here, az 10 o'clock today. and az the
point OF WincheEters compelled the Sec
tion foreman To prepare their dinner.
They were armed 10 the toeth and were
thought 90 be part OF the band. After
eating dinner they started west. and
the section foreman followed them TO
their hiding place In the brush on the
banks OF hull creek. where the entire
gang of eight were cnmped. They were
stlll In camp there at sundowu,
Cincinnati, oct. 2t.-TO-nlght Col.
Weir. president OF the Adams express
company, tolegraphed from New York
to the chief of police OF this city; Don't
let the man with broken leg get
loose. We want him badly" This re-
fers 60 Chus. A. Morganneld. the priB-
oner with "A broken leg, under gunrd In
a Cincinnati hospital, whom Col, Weir
suspects iB one OF the Quantico train
robbers. Telegrams are pouring In 10
police headquarters from all directions
to-day. IL Is believed other members
OF the gang OF robbers are here. The
police ARE very reuccnt
May Choose Hanging or shsstinn.
Salt Lake. Oct. 2i.-The Jury In tho
| fphI,dn f,urdar rnaa xvhlgh has bapn ON