The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-11

and county seat situated on the south side
of he Salt Fork about three miles south
of Pond Creek station or, as 1t Is known IN
postal circles AS Jefferson, that being the
postoffice name for old Pond Creek.
About half mile south of Round
Pond the train stopped, but soon
pulled out again and after running
about half mile further it came to dead
staudstill. The fact is the bandit who
was directing the engineer had mistaken a
thought his pals We're waiting, and that
WAS the cause of the first stop.
1t is the supposition that one of the ban
dts climbed on the tender at Jefferson and
when the train had passed Round Pond,
where it does not stop, he covered the en-
gineer and fireman with two revolvers aud
made them obey his orders.
When the train finally stopped about a
mile south of Round Pond the robbers at
tackled the express car and for nearly ten
minutes they yelled at the mes
senger to open the door and to
accelerate his movements they fired several
shots He still refused to open the door
and the robber then placed stick of dyna-
mite on the iron plate of the doorway and
exploded it.
The force was so great that it shattered
the iron plate into pieces AID the door was
broken into smithereeus. The coucus-
sion was SO great that it knocked the mes
moments.
In the meantime Guard Harmon made
his way ont through the lear end OF the
Car and under cover OF the darkness sur
veyed the scene. He Saw one OF the rob
bers in the act of climbing into the car and
he took deliberate aim with his Winchester
shot gun aud sent three buckshot crashing
through the body of the robber who fell to
the ground dead. This alarmed the other
robbers who seemed to be about five in
number, and they ran away.
In the meantime the sheriff of Round
Pond was notified and he FASTENED TO the
scene. He found one man riding furiously
along the road with two horses and he
arrested him. This is the man who Is now
in custody, aud he is undoubtedly
one of the robbers. Jake Hsr-
mon acted bravely and courageously
ali the way through. n freight train
backed down from Pond Greek for the
body of the dead man, as Well as the
officers aud prisoners, all OF whom We're
conveyed to Round Pond
Yesterday afternoon the coroner's jury
returned a verdict eXoneratiug Jake Har-
mon from all blame.
Tx is undecided yet whether the prisoner
will be brought to Wichita or taken to
Guthrie.
thrown any light upon the identity OF the
gang. but they are supposed to be the
Daltons.
Two men were arrested at Hennessey
last night on suspicion of being members
of the gang.
Mr.. TORY. the postal clerk, secured
white hat that belonged to one OF the rob
bers and is keeping it as a souvenir Of the
event.
A special correspondent of the EAGLE at
Pond Creek, IN letter to this paper, gives
the following account of the robbery:
The south-bouud passenger ana express
train on the Rock Island road was held
up last night at n point about one mile
south OF this place. and an unsuccessful
attempt made TO rob the express car. Two
men who boarded the train at Pond Creek
station, shortly after the train had passed
the county seat climbed over the tender OF
the engine, flashed their guns IN the face
of the engineer aud commanded him
to bring his train To halt
at the first crossing south of the city linz
its. where their confederates were await
ing the arrival OF the train. As soon rs
the train STOPPED the bandits, going TO the
express car demanded that the messenger
open up, at the same time shooting into
the car. The messeng-T ana guard who
were on the inside refused TO open the door,
when 4 dynamite bomb was placed on the
sill and the door badly shattered The ex-
plosion knocked the messenger down
and as soon a. lie sufficiently recovered
70 speak he told the robbers
that be could not open the door at that
side o. the car but to come around on the
her side of the Car and he would open up.
Al the same time the guard who was 10
the car with y repeating shot gun that re-
fused to work opened the door al the rear
end OF the Car and passed out going
through the coaches ana climbed OF the
train AZ the rear end. At the same time ac-
lusting his gun. Wien the guard climbed
off the train he SAW one Of the robbers In
front o. the door of the express Car firing
at the messenger in the inside. He took aim
fred and the robber was killed Instantly.
After the death of their leader the other
bandits jumped on their horses which
were hitched just east Of the railroad track
and rode sway. During tue time the
fight was going on the brakeman had run
back the track to Pond Greek and given
the alarm. About twenty-five nj tue ciu-
zsns Of the town went 20 the scene OF the