The record-union., 1895-07-03
The Oregon Express Held Up in
Cow Greek Canyon.
MAIL SACKS RlFLED AND PASSEN-
GERS ROBBED
At Least Three Masked Men Have a
Hand in the Job-About Three
Thousand Dollars In Coin and
Jewelry Taken-Conductor Kearney
Shot at, But Not Ipjured-One OF the
Robbers Identified as an Ex.Trafn.
man-Large Reward offered for
Their Capture.

man-Large Reward Offered for
Their Capture.
ASHLAND (Or.), July q Passenger
train No. 15. bound north, was held up at
10:30 o'clock last night in Cow Creek Cam
yon, just north of Riddles Station, where
it was due at 1926.
The robbers stopped the train by put
ting dynamite under the f1ange OF q
wheel on the forward truck and dis
abling the engine.
After the train came to standstill three
masked men appeared, and, pistols IN
hand, proceeded to make systematic
search of the mail-pouches containing the
registered mail. 1t took but few min
utes to get through with that. After
leaving the mail-car they proceeded to
hold up the passengers. Zach passenger
bles that he had.
1t is not known exactly what amount
was secured. but is believed to be sew
eral thousand dollars. After the robbers
had completed their work they disap-
peared in the neighboring brush.
The hold-up was cleverly executed IN
every way and totally unexpected. There
is every indication that the men engaged
everything coolly and did not seem to be
afraid OF being disturbed. Sheriffs OF
two counties are out after the robbers.
The Cow Creek country is infested by
desperadoes, who are thoroughly organ
tzed and whose knowledge of all trails
and cut-offs equals that OF any peace Off
Ger or hunter. 1t is not thought that the
bers, because the latter have a good start
and are likely to be protected by friends
and sympathizers. The men who are
robbiug stages and trains and commit
ting other acts of deviltry in Southern
Oregon will give any posse hard tight.
PARTICULARS OF THE HOLD-UP.
PORTLAND, July 2.-The Oregon Ex-
press, No. 10, which was held up in Cow
Creek Canyon, thirty miles from Rose
burg, last night, arrived here i've hours
late. The passengers had scarcely recOv-
cred from their fright and many were
without cent, the robbers taking every
thing. The only ones who escaped were
women, whose money and jewelry were
not disturbed. The engine OF the train
was disabled by explosions of dynamite,
which was freely used by the robbers to
iutimidate the passengers.
A detailed statement Of the losses OF
passengers furnished by Superintendent
tieldssho the personal losses to aggre-
gate 500. The largest personal loser is
Philadelphian, who gave up $500. When
ask ed for his name he refused to give il,
but said: PUT it down to poker"
Among the list OF valuables only few
gold watches and a revolver were taken.
The total booty, including the registered
hvyf ho va " of lo
is about 5000, but it is believed the loss
will prove greater.
The scene of the hold-up is wild,
rugged region, stream being near the
track on one side, and mountains Gov
cred with dense forest rising on the
other side. The train was in charge Of
Conductor T. j. kearney and Engineer
J. b. Gray.
The train was running at the rate OF
twenty-five miles an hour down the can
yon, when terrific explosion Jared the
engine and coaches. The engineer
brought the train to standstill, fearing
another torpedo was ahead, and that
meadt trouble. Conductor kearney, as
he ran forward, met one one OF the rob-
bers, who fred at him, but missed his
aim. kearney, on being hidden to get
inside, hid himself in the Pullman car.
One robber made the engineer wait
and Fireman Gray get down ana GO to the
express Car and order it opened. Express
man Donohoe took out the way treasure
at the first alarm and locked his box,
which he reopened at their order. The
robber then entered the mail car, and
Postal Clerk Herman gave up. Tney cui
the registered mail and took everything
Of value.
The men held the train up one hour
and iorty-five minutes without interrup-
tion. They started through the train.
one man going through the car and his
pals on each side outside. Express Messen.
ger Donohoe was made to proceed ahead
of the masked man. who requested the
passengers to give up their money, which
he showed in sack slung on his arm.
He sung out to the passengers In o loud
voice, "Get down into your jeans and dig
up" None of the ladies were molested.
In the Pullman the robbers stopped al
berths and asked. Lady or gent?"
Two men on the outside of the car kept
the heads Of the excited passengers in by
covering everyone outside. As they
passed along they exploded sticks o
dynamite under the cars and at each plat.
form, which kept people thoroughly un.
der control. 1t seemed that the cars
would be thrown off the track by the ex.
plosions.
The express car. which was next to the
engine, was in charge OF Messenger X. NJ.
packages in the local box. When the
large safe containing the through express
money packages was opened on the ar
rival of the train here, it was found to
contain one small package of money.
Donohoe hid the packages under q box at
the other end OF the car. They threat
ened to blow the messenger to pieces with
dynamite, and when the highwaymen
entered the express car the fireman, engi-
neer and messenger were all under cover.
Donohoeisaid: He told me to open the
local express box, at the same time say
ing that if 1 did not he would blow my
-- head oil. When the fellow saw
that there was nothing inside, he was
disguised. Then he told me to work the
combination of the big safe, which con-
tanned through express matter. / said
that could not do it, as / did not know
the combination. We'll, open it. or pll
put hole through you,' he said. 1 told
him to shoot ii he was going to: that
would not open it If could Hurry up
now, and open it. Will give you five
minutes he yelled again. Then ex.
planned that could not open it, when be
became satisfied.
latter remaining in the car for ter
minutes. he ordered me to take a lantern
and with the fireman and engineer, and 8
tramp who was riding on tue trucks, te
nroceed to the mail car. He entered The
car from the left side, and the four of US
waited until he cut the sacks and go
everything. We were held up by two O.
his pals. who were sent some distance OF
in the dark. We could see the light flash.
inc on their guns. Then he had us pro
ceed TO the next car, which was the day
coach. The tramp held the sack. car
ried the lantern, and the engineer ane
fireman followed me. with the robber be
hind us. He had his gun IN his hand