The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-07-11
DYNAMITE IS USED.
A SOUTHERN PACIFIC PASSENGER
TRAIN ROBBED IN OREGON.
The Engine Is Disabled by Dyna-
mite, Then the Robbers Loot the
Train From the Mail Car to the
Last Pullman Sleeper.

Grants Pass. Or, July 4. - The
Southern Pacific overland train,
north-bound, was stopped at 1915 D.
IN. by highwaymen, pear Riddles,
about thirty miles south of ROseburg,
and thoroughly robbed. Three sticks
| Of dynamite were placed on the rails,
| which disabled the engine by blowing
the tianges off the pony trucks and
brought the train to a stop Taking
| the fireman, two of the highwaymen
| proceeded to go through the train,
every car from the express car to the
rear Pullman being searched. Nothing
was obtained from the express car
for there was no treasure on board
| In the mail car, the Portland. Ia
coma, Sea tile and Victoria, b. c., reg
| istered sacks were ritled. The pas
sengers were also searched pretty
thoroughly. One highwayman took
a hasty shot at Conductor kearney,
without effect.
Supt. Fields, Of the Southern Pa
citic in an hour after learning of the
! hOld-up, had two parties on the way
| to the scene of the robbery. A posse
was hastily made up in ROseburg and
and-ready mOuntaineerS started from
here. The party started from here is
| thoroughly familiar with every foot
| of the ground and good hopes are en-
| tertained of capturing the robbers.
The train was delayed several hours,
having been compelled to turn the
engine around and go into Roseburg
| backward.
The train was held up at the north
| end of canyon, just south of Riddle
| station. When the dynamite eX-
| plosiOn brought the train to a stand
still Conductor r. J. Kearney, who
| was in charge Of the train, ran out,
| but was met by one of the bandits
who fired at him with q pistol. the
bullet grazing the conductors hand.
| The bandit then ordered the con-
| ductor to get inside and stay there.
and the order the conductor was not
slow in oheying, hiding himself in a
| Pullman closet from where he saw
one man Qatrolling the bank which
| overlooked the train. Another bandit
| made the engineer Waite, and Fire
| man Gray get off the engine and go
| to the express car and order 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 engineer,
| fireman and express messenger to
enter the mail car Postal Clerk
Herman gave up the registered
| pouches, which the robber ordered the
| men to cut open.
| a
ployes to go to the passenger coaches
and assist him in relieving the pas
sengers Of their valuab les. 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 them with a pistol.
The sheriff of klamath county was
on board with prisoner The rob-
Der appropriated the sheriff's pistol.
| None Of the ladies in the car were
molested. During the time the train
| was held, one hour and fOrty-tlve
minutes, the robbers outside kept
| firing sticks Of dynamite to intimi-
| date the passengers. After the chief
robber had secured his booty he
ordered the engineer to proceed north.
| He then shot out the headlight.
| 1t is estimated that the robbers Sc
| cured from $1,000 to $4,000 altogether.
One passenger in the Pullman gave up
! $500.
| II. f. Smith, special agent Of the
| Phoenix Of Hartford Insurance COM
pany, with two friends, was in the
| Pullman smoking room when they
| heard the first bomb. They looked out
| of the window and were told by the
! robbers with many Caths 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 afterward they
| ran to their births and rolled in. At
ter long suspense 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 were only inspected.
| Ladies were not disturbed. A Berk-
| ley student sound asleep in the Pull
man car knew nothing or the hold-up
until punched in the ribs with a pis-
| toll and told to dig up. tie gave up
| everything, including god watch.
| The robber laughed and talked with
| the passengers while taking their val
| tables.