Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-05-02
DEATH OF AN ENGINEER.
Bloody Details OF An Attempt to Rob
an Alton Express Train.

Chicago, May 2.--The officials of the
Alton road deny emphatically to-day
that there was any attempt to hold up
train at Carlinsville last night, when En-
glneer Frank Holmes was killed. The
shooting they say was done by tramps.
The officials think they havethe murderer
in the man caught leaving the tender.
However, Mail Clerk j. P. Keevers
tells the following story: Carlinsville is
fifty-seven miles from st. Louis, and
train No. 3, Cond uctor Comm and Engi-
neer Holmes, left there on time at 11:40
p. m. Hardly had the train got under
way when two tramps, lying fiat on the
coal in the tender, were startled by the
appearance of two masked men crawling
over the tender. Poking two big revol-
vers into the faces of the tramps the new
corners enjoined silence and strict atten-
tion to their business. Passing on to the
engine cab one of the armed men ordered
the fireman, new man learning the road,
to put up his hands, while the other Gov
cred the engineer and ordered him to
shut off steam. The engineer complied.
Then the desperate ordered him to give
her full head and be lively about it.
Holmes made pretence of doing so and
the robber, who was apparently satisfied,
stepped back foot or two. Holmes was
on the alert for tho opportunity presented
and, seizing the fireman's pick, dealt the
robber two blows on the head. Both
ROBBERS AT ONCE OPENED FIRE
and plucky Frank Holmes fell dead in
the gangway of his engine with at least
three bullet holes in his breast. The fire.
man shut off steam and put on the air
and the heavy train slowed down to
standstill. As it 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 the two mail
clerks working at letters heard one of
them exclaim: "They are shooting, let
us get off," Jumping off, they realized
that their plans had miscarried. After
moments indecision, they started to fee.
The mail clerks, who at first supposed
the firing was done by brakeman as
menace to defiant tramps, heard the fire.
man shouting: "Frank Holmes is shot
dead" Mail Clerk j. H. Confrey and
Baggageman Logan, who was in charge
of the weighing of mails for the govern
ment and railroad company respectively,
proceeded to assist the trainmen in d
search for the slayers of Holmes. Hurry
ing around the engine Logan stumbled
over man lying prone in the grass and
commanded him to rise. Reluctantly
complying the man protested earnestly
against arrest and claimed to be in no
way connected with the trouble. Con-
frey pushed on and came upon man
with
REPEATING RIFLE AND BELT
full of cartridges. His back was turned
and Confrey covered him and ordered
him to come along. The man demurred
strongly, claiming he had been on a
hunting expedition. Confrsy refused to
party and getting his revolver in line
with the suspects heart convinced him
tha lie Tad hi earnest MAJ to- deal with.
Logan and Confrey turned their men
over to Conductor Conlin and the pas
sengers. Conlin in tho mean time secured
the two tramps on the tender. The man
with the rife put mp SO convincing a story
to account for his presence that Conlin
permitted him to 60. The passengers and
others believe that Oonlin made serious
mistake. Train No. 8 is said to carry at
times large sums of money and the OBJ
ject of the bandits was probably to loot
the express car. Chief Agent Kane is
prosecuting vigorous search for the
robbers"