Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-04-27
FOUR DARING ROBBERS.
POLICEMEN AND BURGLARS HAVE A
FIGHT AT WHITE HANEN.

East Mauch Chunk Postoffice Entered by
Gang Early Friday Morning-when
Discovered They Boarded n Freight
Train--Two Were Shot and Captured.
Four burglars broke into the post
Office at East Mauch Chunk early Friday
morning. They were discovered, but
escaped at the point of their revolvers,
and two were wounded and captured in a
fight at White Haven. 1t was one of
the most daring attempts at burglary
and the most desperate resistance to
arrest that has occurred in this region
for many day. The postolfice is next
to the store of III. A. Buchanan and is
separated from it with a thin wall The
burglars first gained entrance to the
store, cut their way through the wall
and then attacked the big safe. They
had succeeded in breaking off the com
bnation of the safe and were prepar-
ing to drill when a lot of young people
going home from ball heard the noise
and gave the alarm.
In few minutes several young men
had collected, but were unarmed and
made no attempt to arrest the men.
The burglars escaped through rear
door, then dashed down the street.
threatening the crowd with their revol-
vcrs, and succeed in boarding a Jersey
Central freight train which was passing
through the town, northbound. Before
the crowd could get sufficient courage
to attack them they were out of danger.
1t was decided to telegraph to White
Haven, the next point north, and all the
other towns along the road that the
train would pass through. When the
White Haven operator received the mes
sage the freight train was due in half an
hour. Fortunately the chief of police
lived near the station. He was quickly
aroused and set to work to get posse
So well did he work that five minutes
before the train was due twenty men,
many half dressed and not all of them
armed, had gathered under his orders
and lay in wait just below the town,
where the train could be stopped on a
clear track. 1t was decided to do this,
as the robbers would have but little
chance to escape if the train was once
properly surrounded.
As the train drew in It was tagged
and the engineer was asked if he had
any men on the train. One of the
brakemen said that four men who
boarded the train at Mauch Chunk were
about the middle of the train. The
posse at once rushed toward the place
designated, but the stopping of the train
tAnd the noise of many voices had ap-
prised the robbers of what was going
on, and as the men rushed forward they
opened fire with their revolvers.
The posse found shelter behind piles
of ties and telegraph poles and then re-
turned the fire with interest, aiming at
the flashes from the revolvers of the
the burglars. Over 100 shots had been
exchanged, but the fire of the burglars
slackened and then stopped, and one of
them shouted: ''We give up; don't fire
any more"
Fearful of some trick, the citizens ad-
vanced but slowly, and this gave oppor-
tunity for two of the men to escape.
Although they were fired at and follow
cd by several men they made good their
escape and it is not known whether they
were wounded or not
In the car two of the desperadoes
were found, both seriously wounded
The first has two pistol wounds in his
back, one of which seems to have pierre
ed his kidneys. He has been too weak
to give any information about himself.
The other man has a ball in his chest
and another in his arm. He remained
conscious but sullen, and the only infor-
nation that could be got from him was
that his name is Henry Roper. He will
not say where he lives and will give alb
soutely no particulars concerning his
comrades.
When there was lull in the shooting
figure was seen moving on the top of
the box car and when commanded to
come down he did so. He said he was
an actor and Il member of the Empire
Star Company, which has been playing
in Mauch Chunk, and he was innocent
of any connection with the robbers.
He was retained, however, but later in
the day was released.
Three empty revolvers were found in
the coal car, the latter showing the
marks of over fifty bullets. An old
stocking containing several sticks of dy
Mantle was found in the postoffice, to-
gether with two very fine drills and
some hammers, all making fine col
lection of burglars tools.
The wounded men were taken to
Mauch Chunk and placed in Jail.