The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-03

How Engineer Frank Holmes Met
Deafl-Mnil Clerks story.

CHICAGO, May 2.-The hold up of the
Chicago & Alton north-bSund express last
night near Carlinville. H.. appears 10 have
been a much more desperate affair than
first. reported. Immediately on the arrival
of the train in Chicago to-day a reporter
interviewed mail clerk j. +. Keevers, who
was aboard at the time of the attack Mr..
Keevers said: THE train Chicago &
Alton No. 3. which left st. Louis at $50
last evening. 1t was held up by armed
robbers AT Carlinvilie just before midnight
and in a pllcky fight with the robbers en-
gineer Frank Holmes laid down his life-
Carlinvlle is ifty-seven miles from 81.
Louis and train No. 3. conductor Conlin.
and engineer Holmes, left there on schedule
time at IA and began the run to Brighton.
the next regular stop Hardly had the
train got under way when two tramps
lying fat on the coal in the tender were
startled by the appearance of two masked
men. who came crawling over the tender.
Placing two big revolvers into the faces
of the tramps the newcomers enjoined them
to silence and strict attention 10 their own
business. Passing on TO the engine cab, one
OF the armed ordered the two nre-
men. one extra learning the road. 10 put
up their hands while the other covered
the engineer and ordered him 10 shut or
steam. The engineer complied and then the
desperate ordered him TO give her full
head and be lively about H. Holmes made
a pretense of doing and the rcbber, ap-
parently satisfied, stepped back foot or
two Engineer Holrnes was the alert for
the opportunity presented and seizing the
freman's pick, used In breaking coal. he
dealt the robber two quick. glancing blows
on the head. Both robbers at once opened
fire and pllcky Frank Holmes fell dead In
the gangway OF his engine with Al least
three bullet holes I'm his breast. The fire-
man shut of steam and put on the air
and the heavy train slowed down 10 a
standstill: as il did so the two robbers
swung off,
A number of men had been riding on the
rear platform of the mail car and at the
first report two OF the mail clerks work.
ing al the letter case heard one or them
exc.aim. There. they are shooting: lets
their plans had miscarried. After a mo-
ment of indecision they started To fee. Inc
mail clerks, who had at first supposed that
the firing was done by a brakeman, as
menace to defiant tramps. heard the fire
man shouting Frank Holmes Is shot dead.
Mail clerk John IA. Conefry and baggage
man l. c. Logan. who were IN charge OF
the weighing of mails for the government
and railroad company, respectively. hast
ened 10 their grips. In which lay their
revolvers and, jumping from the mail car
proceeded TO assist the trainmen IN their
search for the slayers OF Frank Holmes
Hurrying around the engine Logan STUN
bled over a man lying prone in the grass
and commanded him TO rise. Reluctantly
complying the man protested earnestly
against arrest and claimed 10 be IN no way
connected with the trouble. Conefry pushed
on and came on a man with repeating
rife and belt full Of cartridges. His hack
was turned aid Conefry covered him and
ordered him TO come along. The man de-
INJURED strongly. claiming he had been on
hunting expedition. concfry refused 10
parley and. getting his revolver in line
With the suspects heart, convinced him
that he had an earnest man 10 deal with.
and frVtf mel a<a
TO conductor Conlin and the passengers
I who had come forward. Conlih. In the
meantime, had secured the tive tramps
who had been on the tender The man
with the rifietput up convincing a story
10 account for his presence that C0nlin
xxas persuaded Of his innocence and per-
United him go. action which the
conductor strongly regretted when his
emotion over the killing of his old friend
Holmes had subsidized. The Passengers and
others believe that Conin made serious
mistake. The man with the Ninchestsg