The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-03
AN OREGON HOLD-UP
TRAIN DYNAMITED AND MAIL AND
PASSENGERS ROBBED.
Ladies' I'm Their Berths Not Disturbed
by the Bandit Who Did the
"Hands Up" Act.

GRANTS PASS. Ore. July 1.-The South
ern Pacific overland train. north-bound, was
robbed last night at 1918 o'clock by three
highwaymen. Sticks of dynamite were
placed on the rails. which disabled the en-
CINE by blowing the fanges off the pony
trucks. and brought the train to stop. The
hold-up occurred at the north end of a
canyon just south of Riddles station. When
the dynamite explosion brought the train
to standstill conductor 7. 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 ordered
the conductor to get inside and stay there.
an order which he was not slow in obeying.
He hid himself in a Pullman closet, from
which he saw one man patrolling the bank
which overlooked the train. Another bandit
made engineer Waite and fireman Grey get
on the engine go to the express car and
order 1t opened Expressrnan Donohue had
taken out his way treasure at the first
alarm and relocked his box. This he re-
opened at the order of the robbers. The rob-
Der then ordered the engineer. fireman and
express messenger to enter the mail car.
Postal clerk Herman gave up all the reg
istered pouches which the robber ordered
the men to cut open. He then ordered the
railroad employees to go to the passenger
coaches and assist him in relieving the pas
sengers of their valuables. They passed all
who had the appearance Of being working
men, but made the men hold up their hands
while they went through their pockets, the
robber standing over them with a pistol
The sheriff of klamath county was on board
with a prisoner. The robber appropriated
the sheriff's pistol. None of the ladies in the
car was moIested. During the time the train
was held which was an hour and forty-five
sticks of dynamite to intimidate the pas
sengers. After the chief robber had seized
his booty he ordered the engineer to pro-
coed north. He thens shot out athe headlight
and, firing five additional shots as a signal
to his companions, disappeared In the dark
ness. F. Ploth, Western Union line man,
who was on the train, had $50 or $50 in his
pocket. but he talked the robber out of
searching him. He describes the robber who
went through the car as slender He wore
overalls and a jumper. He had a large bag
slung over mis- shoulder: and carried com
were rough and cracked. He had a deep,
coarse voice, which could be easily reco9-
nized If heard again 1t was too dark to see
disabled that Ii took three hours to reach
Riddles, four miles distant
Immediately on the receipt of the news
the Southern Pacific sent three detectives
out from Roseburg and Grants Pass, makes
a force of about thirty men in pursuit Of the
rugged and the Prospects of the capture of
the bandh are not very favorable.
Later reports say it is 8. estimated est d that the
gether. One passenger in the Pullman gave
ranging from $50 to $50. As. soon as the
cause of the stoppage of the train was
known began
and valuables, throwing it under seats, in
hat racks and stufflng boots and shoes.
it away at the robbers request A bridal
couple in the day coach were the first pas
sengers held up: All their money was taken.
the robber left the car. r. E. Smith, special
agent of the Phoenix of Hartford Insur-
anes Company, with two friends s was in s the
the first bomb. They looked out the window
and were teld 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 afterwards they ran TO their berths
and rolled in. After long suspense. a rob-
Der, with the engineer, fireman, express
man, porter and a tramp came along and
porter at every berth .laoy or gentleman
lower berths only being inspected. Ladies
were not disturbed. A Berkeley student,
OF the hold-up until punched in the ribs
with pistol and told to dig up He gave
up everything including a gold watch. The
robber laughed and talked with the passen-
gers while taking their valuables
Attempt to Wreck the "MOney Train
WASHINGTON. July 2.-Employes Of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad think an attempt
was made by robbers last night to wreck
one of its east-bound fast express trains
near Monocacy. Nd, about thirty miles
from here. The train was running at high
speed between IL and u O'clock. when. sud-
denly, there was terrific explosion. The
crew stuck TO their posts and when the
train was brought to standstill ut was
found that Though the cars had been con-
siderably damaged and the headlight and
through rhe woods. persons had been
| injured. The train is known as the money
| train" and IL is thought that dynamite was
| used to wreck 1T in the hope of subse-
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