The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-03
THE BANDIT HAD PITY
Restored Part Of the Money
Taken From Nelson Bennett.
a TRAIN HELD UP m ioREoN.
Dynamite Under the Engine Wheels
Passengers Robbed and Regis
tered Packages Rined.

the north end OF the canyon just south
OF Riddle station. The robbers. supposed
90 be three in number, had placed dyna-
mite or the track. which, exploding,
raised the engine and broke rhe fiange
on the forward truck, bringing the train
10 stsndstill. Conductor T. j. kear-
ney. who was IN charge of the train. ran
out, but was met by one OF the bandits.
who fred al him with his pistol. the bull
let grazing his head. The oaneit then
ordered the conductor 20 go inside ana
stay there an order that the conductor
was not slow In ooeying. hiding himself
in Pullman closet. whence he saw one
man patroling the bank which overlooked
the train. Another bandit made Engineer
White and Fireman Gray get down from
the engine and 90 70 the express car ana
order IL opaned Expressman Donohne
had taken out his way treasure at the
first alarm and relocked his box. This
he reopene6 al an order OF the roboeT-
The roDber then ordered the engineer.
fireman and express messenger TO enter
the mail car. Postal Clerk Herman gave
him all the registered pouches. which the
robber ordered the men 70 cut open. He
then ordered the railroad employees to go
to the passenger coaches and assist him
In relieving the passengers OF their yalu-
aabIes. They passed all who had the
appearance Of workingmen, but made the
others hold up their hands while they
standing over them with a pistol. The
sheriff OF klamath county was on board
with prisoner. The robber appropriated
the eherfn's pistol. None or the ladies'
In the car was molestcd.
AS soon as the cause OF the stoppage
OF the train was known the passengers
began hiding vaIuables. throwing them
under the seats. ia hatracks and stuff
ing boot and shoes. many afterwards
digging up and giving at the robbers re-
quest. A bridal couple In the day coach
from Gold fiiI on the way 10 Portland
TO spend the honeymoon. were the first
passengers held up. All their money
was taken and both sat with hands up
fer an hour after the robber left the car.
Miss Johnston. a teacher from klamath
county. returning home 20 Roseherg, Of
fered the robber a small purse containing
about $50. II was taken.
r.. f. Smith. special agent OF the Phoe
nix, OF Hartford. Insurance Company. of
San Francisco. with two friends, was I'm
the Pullman smoking room when they
heard the first bomb They looked out
OF the window. and were told by
robber. with many oaths. 10 pull their
neads inside, whereupon they piled over
each other In the middle Of the room 10
get away from shots. They told the
Pullman conductor that the train was
neld up. Soon afterward they ran 10
their berths and rolled in. After long
suspense the robher with the engineer.
fireman. expressman. porter and a tramp,
came along and told them TO dig NJ,
but did not search any one in Smiths
presence. and. ne all had plenty OF time
20 get calm and hide their gold. only
few gave most or all OF their treasure.
Smith threw his money under the berth.
except a few dollars In silver. which he
gave UP. declaring II was all he had.
The robber asked the porter at every
-. -tA In 80
bershs only were inspected. Tho ladies
were not disturbed A Berkeley student
sound asleep In the Pullman knew moth
Ing of the hnidup until punched in the
ribs with a pistol and told 10 dig up. as
the robber did not want 10 spoil the bed
linen. He gave up everything, including
q gold watch.
n. NJ. Donohue, messenger for Wells
Fargo & Co.. told the following story OF
tho robbery:
"As soon as I heard the explosion and
felt tlre train slow up. knew that hold
,El had occurred. The leader of the gang
took the engineer and fireman and. COM
ing to the express car ordered me to open
she door. I refused. and took the money
packages In the local express box and hid
4harn under box OF goods The robbers
finally threatened 90 blow me 10 pieces.
when the fireman asked me 20 open the
door. did 40. and the fellow jumped in
and told me to throw up my hands az TIE
same time pointing pistol al me. Then
he told the engineer and fireman to come
inside. which they did.
''He carried his gun I'm his hand. and
kept 10 on me continually. When he got
I'm ne stepped toward the back end Of the
car nsld I stood between the big safe AMI
tho local box. The engineer and fireman
had come I'm the front DIOR. and they
stood together toward the front end OF
the car In tisas way che man had tho
three OF as covered with his gun. ! was
between the robber ami the engineer and
fireman. He told me TO open the local e~-
Press box ~ the same time saying IL l
did not he would bow my id head or.
] hesftated for some moments and then
opened a.. when the fellow saw that
there was nothing inside he was disgust
ell. lie fhen told me 10 work the comhina-
ton OF the big safe. which contained the
through express money. l said could not
do it. "a ,Isd no, know the combination.
well open u or I'll past a hole through
You" ne said.
Il told him "a shoot II he was going 70:
that | would not open Sc II could.
Hurry up now and open IL. I'll give
YOU Eve minutes" he yelled again.
''rhen explained 20 him that | could
not open e ana showed him xhy when
- became SATISFIED after remaining in tie
car FOR about ten minutes he ordered ne
20 take the lantern. and with the ene5neey
and Grefnau. aud a tramp who was ridtng
on the train 20 proceed % she mail car
which was next 20 tho express car
Postal Ascent Herman said the arst In
t.mation he had 81 the robbers VAS the
loud explosion. II knew What was com.
ing" he said. and I stepped down from
my hunk. 7 had five registered packages
sud hld awn 81 them, | knew that could
not hide all for Tho robbers would make
fae alr up. then BID other mail matter
ard Soma loa~e registered letters. sat
tar'uw them all around tae ear. AftAE
fhat I craNicd hack into my bunk Very
soon the r,lst,cr knocked az the door. and
got NJ ard opened il. lie said he wanted
me In proi,sce the registered pouches.
sela him ! bad only three. lie then PAT
che plsscl - my head and made me cat
;hs tpoNches open. wi.-ch did. ! threw
she letters and Packages down when h
directed me- TO: be thcn opened them. tax
inE out bills. silver ard gold I Should
isslsee that De got AZ teSst 81 fsn iD all He
then made sne dix W s5rae more register
al letters He ga nos ma r31e two pouches
which 7 Rad ASaAen." The Seattle Va
tArla. Portland ana Tacoma man was
rifef
NelSen Bennett. p~onrtetor - she Ia
oraa Ledger WAS one 81 the passengers.
sTa,a robbers suffered him - pass with
the lc~a 81 81 ~ y gNt ofT rather lucky %
said Mr. Bennett '"Thev catns through
Our car arsi tho man w-hs WAS carving
the sack approached rse and s1rsa me ,sf,
pretty thoroughly l saw ! would have 80
brs-in ~ hunt az my spare cAsnge ! felt
IN my pockets for silver ard ptilesi ouf "a
ZEN dollars. The rohher was 81 a hurrv.
ard no seemed 20 think 7 voalf haze q
hard time 80 SATISFY hina. because he said
''wcl you're a poor devil. here's s. fer
YOU - eSl{ on 4 while III ka~ats Fhs resi-.