The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-04-03
Two Dead Robbers.

CHATTANooaA, Tenn, March 1.-Two
robbers dead and third mortally wound
ed are the results of an attempt to hold
up the south-bound passenger train on
the Cincinnati Southern railroad at $50
this morning. The train had just emerg-
ed from tunnel No. ., two miles north of
Greenwood, Ky, when a white lantern,
swinging in the middle of the track just
ahead, brought il to dead stop.
A tall, lank, bearded countryman, per-
haps 10 years old. mounted the steps of
the engine, and thrusting the barrel of
pistol into the face of Engineer Tom
Springfield, ordered him TO stand still,
which he did, while Fireman Rankin,
who was next to the outlaw, observed
discrete silence. Three other men climb
ed into the baggage ear, which they evil
IDENTIFY mistook for the express ear,
Three road detectives, Thomas Griffin,
VIII Edie and VIII Altgood, were in the
smoking car when the train stopped.
Al;good stepped up TO see what was the
matter. As he stepped down he was or
dered to throw up his hands by man
who had a revolver, but instead he pull
ell his own revolver and began firing.
The other two robbers took fright at the
shooting, and jumping from the baggage
car, began fusilade of shots.
Eddie and Griffin appeared on the
scene and it is believed they brought
down two robbers, one of whom died in
stantly, while the other lived till 4O'clock.
4 third man was wounded I'm the breast
perhaps fatally. He climbed upon the
tender and refused TO bulge till Cumber-
land Falls was reached. There he was
given in charge of the operator. Two of
the attacking party escaped.
Officials OF the road have had knowl
edge for some time of plot TO rob the
train, and the officers were in readiness.
The wounded man claims TO be tramp
from Pennsylvania. None OF the men
were identified, but are mountaineers
disguised by the clothes they wore.
CLEVER DETECTIVE WORK.
The stoy of the defeat Of the Cincinnati
Southern train robbers as revealed to-day
is interesting. detective was associated
with robbers and held their horses while
they attacked the train.
Chief of Detectives Tom Griffin, as
sisted by Officers Eddy aud AlgOod, arm
ed with repeating shotguns loaded with
bucllshot, neatly trapped the desperadoes.
The plot to hold up the train had been
Matching for weeks past, by parties of
desperate character, who. after their death,
were identified as living in the vicinity.
The road and express authorities mana
ged To get detective named Frazer into
the confidence Of the rajbers, who stayed
with them until about \. VI. at the point
of rendezvous on the road. The train vas
due at 3 A. N. at this point. The local
detective then made excuse to go up 10
Greenwood station, 4 mile away and got
the crowd something to eat and drink.
When the train pulled into Greenwood,
Detectives Griffin, Eddy and Algood were
notified by Frazer, the local detective who
was in the camp with the robbers, that
the game was ready. The engineer was
to give a special signal or whistle if the
train was haulted by the band. Promptly
ON the dot and the spot, mile south Of
Greenwood, in the dark shadow of the
tunnel cut. the signal came from the
engine, with the sharp crack Of the re-
volvers of the robbers, saluting the halt
of the train.
The wheels of the train had not stopped
ere the detectives sprang from the train.
The robbers were partly in the glare OF
the headlight ofthe engine, partly in shad
ow. Everyone fairly in sight went down
under the rapid fire Of the repeaters Of the
detectives. The robbers were so dazcd by
their reception that their reply fire was
utterly wild, and in a few minutes all was
over.