The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-07-12

Grants Pass. Or, July a. - The
Southern Pacific overland train,
north-bOund. was stopped Mt 1O:15 d.
M. by highwaymen, near Riddles,
about thirty miles south of Roscbury.
and thoroughly robbed. Three sticks
OF dynamite were placed on the rails,
which disabled the engine by blowing
the fanges or the pony trucks and
brought the train to a stop. Taking
the fireman, two Of the higlwayinen
proceeded to go through the train,
every car from the express cur to the
rear Pullman being searched. Nothing
was obtained from the express c,lr
for there was no treasure on boyrtl
In the mail car. the Portland, Ia
coma, Seattle and Victoria, B. C., reg.
istered sacks were rified. The pns-
sengers were also searched pretty
thoroughly. One highwayman took
nasty af1et at Conductor Kearney.
without effect.
Supt. Fields, Of the Southern Pa.
cific. In an hour after learning of the
llold-up. had two parties OH the way
to the scene Of the robbery. \ posse
was hastily made up i'm Roseburg and
started ut once. and another Of rougll-
nnd-re;ldy mOuntainecrs started from
here Tho party started from here IL
thoroughly faEilinr with every foot
OF the ground anl good hopes nrc en-
tertntnetl Of capturing the robbers.
The train was delayed several hours.
having been compelled to turn the
engine around and 20 into Roscburv
backward.
The train was held up at the north
end OF Il canyon, just south of Riddle
station. When the dynamite cx-
plosion brought the train 10 n stand
still Conductor T.. ]. Kearncy, who
was In charge Of the train. ran out,
hut was met by one of the bandits
who fired Mt him with Il pistol, the
bullet grazing the conductors hand.
The bandit then ordered the con-
ductOr to get inside and stay there,
and the order the conductor was not
slow In oleying. hiding himself In a
Pullman closet. from where llr saw
one man patrolling the bank which
overlooked the train. Another bandit
made the engineer, Waite, and Fire
man Gray get Off the engine and go
to the express car and order 1t opened,
ESpressman Donohuc had taken out
his way treasure ut the first ALARM
and elocked his box. This lie re-
opened at the order of the robl,cr. The
robbcr then ordered the engineer,
fireman and express messenger to
enter the mail car. Postal Clerk
Herman gave up the registered
pouches, which the robber ordered the
men to cut open.
He then ordered the railroad chi
ployes TO 80 to the passenger coaches
and assist him In relieving the pas
sengers of their valuablcs. They
passed all who had the appearance
of working men, but made the others
hold up their hands while they went
through their pockets. the robber
Standing over them with a pistol.
The sheriff Of klamath county was
OH board with Il prisoner The rob
Der appropriated the shcrlff's pistol.
None of the ladies' In the cur were
molested. During the time the train
was held, one hour and forty-flvc
minutes. the robbers outside kept
firing sticks of dynamite to intimi-
date the passengers. .Nlcr the chief
rObber had secured his booty he
ordered the engineer to proceed north.
He then shot out the headlight.
1t is estimated that the robbers &C.
cured from $2.NIO to $1,000 altogether.
One passenger in the Pullman gave uD
$4OO.
II. f. Smith, special agent of the
Phoenix of Hartford Insurance COM
pany, with two friends, was in the
Pullman smoking room when they
heard the first bomb. They looked out
of the window and were told by the
robbers with nnny oatlls to pull their
heads inside. whcreupon they piled
over each other in the middle of the
room to get away from shots. They
told the Pullman conductor the train
was held UP. Soon aftcrward they
ran To their births and rolled in. AZ
ter a long suspense Il robbcr with the
engineer, fireman, eXpressnan, porter
and tramp came along and told
them 10 dig up. The rObher asked the
porter at every berth: Lady or gcnt?"
Lower bertlls were only Inspected.
Ladies' We're not disturbed. A Bcrk-
ley student sound asleep In the Pull
man car knew nothing Of the llold-np
until punched In the ribs with a pis-
tol and told TO dig up. ISe gave up /
everything, including 81 gold watch.
The robber laughed and talked with !
The passengers Willie taking their val.
llables.