St. Paul daily globe., 1895-07-03
BANDITS EXPERIENCED NO DIF-
FICULTY IN HAVING THEIR
DEMANDS HONORED.
TRAIN HELD UP IN OREGON.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC OVERLAND
DISABLED BY DYNAMITE AND
PASSENGERS PLUNDERED.
COOL HANDS AT THE BUSINESS.
Men Handed Over Their Money
and ValuabIes, but Ladies
Were Not MOleSted.

Southern Pacific overland train,
northbound, was stopped last night
at 1910 p. m. by three highwaymen
near Riddles, about ten miles above
Roseburg, and thoroughly robbed.
Sticks of dynamite were placed on
the rails, which disabled the engine
by blowing the fanges off the
trucks, and brought the train to a
stop.
The train was held up at the north
end of a canyon. When the dyna-
mite explosion brought it to stand
still Conductor T. J. Kearney, who
was in charge of the train, ran out,
but was met by one of the bandits,
who fired at him with a pistol, the
bullet grazing the conductors head.
The bandit then orderede the con-
ductor to get inside and stay there,
an order that he was not slow in
obeying, hiding himself in a Pull
man closet, from where he saw one
man patrolling the bank which over
looked the train. Another bandit
made Engineer Waite and Fireman
Grey get off the engine and go to the
express car, and ordered it opened.
EXpressman Donohue had taken out
his way treasure at the first alarm
and relocked his box. This he re-
opened at the order of the robber.
The robber then ordered the en-
gineer, fireman and express messen-
ger to enter the mail car. The postal
clerk gave up all the registered
pouches, which the robber told the
men to cut open. He then ordered
the railway employees to go to the
passenger coaches and asst him in
relieving the passengers of their val
uables. 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
of klamath county was on board
with prisoner. The robber appro-
priated the sheriff's pistol None of
the ladies in the car were molested.
POLITE, BUT FIRM.
It is estimated that the robbers Sc
cured from $4,000 to $4,000 altogether.
One passenger in the Pullman gave
up $4OO. Others contributed in
amounts ranging from So to 500. AS
soon as the cause of the stoppage
Of the train was made known the
passengers began hiding money and
valuables, throwing it under seats.
in hat racks, and stuffing boots and
shoes, many afterwards digging it
up and giving it up at the robbers
request. A bridal couple in the day
coach were the first passengers held
up. All their money was taken.
Both sat with hands up for an hour
after the robbers left the car. r. E.
Smith, special agent of the Phoenix,
of Hartford, Insurance company,
with two friends, was in the Pull
man smoking room when they heard
the first bomb. They looked out of
the window, and were told by the
robbers, with many oaths, to pull
their heads inside, whereupon 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 after
wards they ran to their berths and
rolled in. After a long suspense a
robber, with the engineer, fireman,
eXpreSsman, porter and a tramp,
came along, and told them to dig
up. The robber asked the porter at
every berth, Lady or CENT?" Lower
berths only were inspected, and la
icf1 A
student, sound asleep in the Pull
man car, knew nothing of the hold
up until punched in the ribs with a
pistol and told to dig up. He gave
up everything, including gold
watch. The robber laughed and
talked with the passengers while
taking their valuables.
HARMLESS FIREWORKS.
During the time the train was
held, which was one hour and fortv-
five minutes, the robbers outside
kept firing sticks of dynamite to in
t1m1date the passengers After the
chief robber had secured his BOOTY
he ordered the engineer to proceed
backward. He then shot out the
headlight, and, firing five addition
al shots as signal to his compan-
ions, disappeared in the darkness.
f. Plotner, Western Union line |
man, who was on the train, had $50 |
in his pocket, but he talked the rob-
Der out OF searching him. He de-
scribes the robber who went through |
the car as a slender man about six |
feet tall. He wore a white silk
handkerchief as a mask. His hands |
were rough and cracked. He had |
deep coarse voice, which could be
easily recognized if heard again. 1t
was too dark to see the other rob- |
bers. The engine was so badly dis
abled that it took three hours to |
reach Riddles.
Supt. Fields. of the Southern Pa
cific, lost no time, and in an hour
after learning of the hold-up had |
two parties on the way to the scene
OF the robbery. A posse of officers
was hastily made in Roseburg and
started at once, and another of
rough and ready mountaineers
started from here. The men of the
party from here are thoroughly ia
miliar with every foot Of the ground |
in the neighborhood of the robbery.
THE MESSENGER TOO SMART.
S. A. Donohue, messenger for Wells
Fargo, told the following story of the |
robbery: "As soon as I heard the ex-
plosion and felt ths Essia esa4 va |