Rock Island Argus., 1895-05-03
HAD FATAL PLUCK.
Story Of the Murder of En-
gineer Frank Holmes.
SHOT IN HIS TRACKS AT HIS POST

Because He Declined to Take His Orders
from Thugs and Made . Brave hut Rash
Resistance-Four Men Captured, One Of
Whom Is Let Go His Own Plea-Re-
markable Story Of Roy NJ. Culver's MUIR
der-Other killings
CHICAGO, May 3-The hold up of the
Chicago and Alton north bound lightning
express near Carlinville, Ills, appears to
have been a much more desperate affair
than at first reported. Upon the arrival
OF the train in Chicago Mail Clerk J. P.
keevers, who was aboard at the time of
attack, said: 1.-THE train was held up by
armed robbers at Carlinville just before
midnight. and in plucky fight with the
robbers Engineer Holmes laid down his
life. Carlinville is flfty-seven miles from
st. Louis. and train No 8. Conductor
Conlin and Engineer Holmes, left there
on schedule time at 1l:14, and began the
run to Brighton, the next regular stop.
Hardly had the train got under way when
two tramps lying fiat on the coal in the
tender were startled by the appearance of
twoAasked men, who came crawling over
the tender.
Engineer Holmes Attacks the Thugs.
"Poking two big revolvers into the
faces of the tramps the newcomers en-.
Joined them to silence and strict atten-
tiOn to their own busins~ Passing on
to the engine cab one Of the armed men
ordered the two firemen-one man extra
learning the road-to put up their hands,
while the other covered the engineer and
ordered him to shut of steam. The en-
gineer complied, and then the desperate
ordered him to give her full head.
Holmes made u pretense of doing SO, and
the robber, apparently satisfied, stepped
back foot or two. Engineer Holmes
was on the alert for the opportunity pre-
sented, and seizing the fireman's pick
used in breaking coal, he dealt the rObber
two quick, glancing blows on the head
His Pluck Proved Deadly
"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 fireman
shut off steam and put on the air. and the
heavy train slowed down to a 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 two of the mail clerks working
ut the letter case heard one of them ex-
claim: There. they are shooting, let us
get ,ff' Jumping or, they realized that
their plans had mlscarried. After n mo-
ment of indecision they started to nee
The mail clerks, who had at first supposed
that the firing was done by brakeman
as menace To defiant tramps, heard the
fireman shouting, Frank Holmes is
dead
Captured . Couple of Suspects.
Mail Clerk John +. Conefry and Bag.
gageman J. {. Logan. who were in charge
of the weighing of mails for the govern
ment and the railroad company respect
lively. FASTENED to their grips in which
lay their revolvers, and jumping from the
mail car proceeded to assist the trainmen
in their search for the slayefs of Frank
Holmes. Hurrying around the engine
Logan stumbled over n man lying prone
on the ground and commanded him to
rise. Reluctantly complying the man
protested earnestly against arrest and
claimed to be i'm no way connected with
the trouble. Concfry pushed on and came
upon n man with repeating rifle and
belt full of cartridges. His back was
turned and Conefry covered him and
compelled him to come along.
ConIin Makes - Mistake. Probably.
logan and Conefry turned their men
over to Conductor Conlin and the passen-
gers who had come forward. Conlin in
the meantime having secured the two
tramps who had been on the tender The
man with the rifle put up SO convincing q
story to account for his presence that
Conlin was persuaded Of his innocence
and permitted him to go, an action which
the conductor strongly regretted when