The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-10-15
ANOTHER BOLD HOLD UP.
Two Men Stop and Rob an Oregon
City Car.

Two Men Stop and Rob an Oregon
City Car.
Portland, Oct. 12.-The East Side
Railway Company's car, Ona, bound
for Portland, was held up at Meldrum
station, four miles this side of Oregon
City, at 6:45s1ast evening, by two high
waymen, and from the 80 passengers
on board $97 was taken. Both the
robbers were armed with revolvers,
each had his face blackened, and each
acted with perfect calmness during the
robbery. Not single shot was fred
by either the robbers or passengers.
An absurd civility prevailed, and when
the work had been finished the high
waymen bade their victims courteous
adieu and said they would call again
when broke. They then backed short
distance into the brush and secreted
themselves until the car moved or.
The work of the two men is well in
line. with the attempt on the o. r. q
N. passenger only a short time ago,
but the result was more satisfactory to
| the robbers. Who they are is unknown
to the authorities, although some per-
sons on the car asserted that they rec
ognized the voice of one of them. The
pursuit was commenced as soon as the
car could reach this city and the police
could be returned to the scene, but SO
far no trace of them can be found.
The Ona left Oregon City at $50
There were about 35 passengers aboard,
the seats nearly all being full. At
Medium station there is a SWITCH,
which necessitates slowing down for
distance. The track at this point is
in very light cut, and on both sides
there is a considerable growth of low
underbrush and ferns. When the Ona
was passing this place the motorman
heard something running through the
brush and ferns, which he supposed
was cattle fleeing from the car. A
moment later, however, he realized
that the something's were coming to-
ward the car, and that their speed was
notadue to fright.
A medium sized man stepped on the
front step while the car was still go
ing slowly, and, approaching the mo-
torman, peremptorily commanded him
to stop the car. The motorman did
not grasp the situation at first, but
thought joke was being perpetrated.
The highwayman soon disabused his
mind by poking a revolver into his
face as an additional emphasis, which
induced the motorman to act promptly.
/ The robber asked him if he had any
money, and, being answered in the
negative, patted his pockets to ascer-
tain if the answer was true. He then
ordered the motorman inside the car,
and started in to ego through" the
passengers.
About the same time the man
jumped on at the front, second rob-
ber climbed onto the rear platform.
He indicated his purpose by pointing
revolver down the aisle of the car to
intimidate the passengers. just as the
car was coming to halt the conductor
managed to pass down the aisle to the
center of the car, and, reaching the
button overhead, turned of the lights.
He then stood near that place during
the proceedings following.
/ The man in front found the work of
taking the surplus cash possessed by
the passengers impeded by the lack of
light. He had taken the money from
three passengers, when he decided to
have the lights turned on again. He
ordered the conductor to do this, using
an oath each time. Turn on the
lights or I'll blow your brains out"
was repeated once or twice, to which
the conductor replied that some one
outside had pulled the trolley off. At
last the robber at the front end called
e.. / - k~r
ahead so that he could have the benefit
of the moonlight. Following his or
der, the car moved on until it turned
so that the light shone in fairly we'll,
when he said that was enough, when it
stopped again. How the car was
moved is not clear, as the motor man
says he was taken inside and kept
there, and neither of the two robbers
in sight went to the front platform.
The robber from the front continued
his work when the car came to halt.
He went down the aisle commanding
the passengers to stand, and taking
from them the money offered, and in
some cases feeling of their pockets to
see if they had given all. He passed
alleged witticisms with several. and
kept up talk the whole time he was
In the car.
After the robber from the front had
gone through the car, the one standing
guard at the rear asked impatiently if
he was through. Being told that all
was finished, he again asked how much
had been gotten. No. said, "Oh, SIS
or $16," and the two then backed out
of the rear door. They kept their pis-
tolls pointed at the car after reaching
the ground until they had backed about
10 feet, when they squatted in the
brush until the car had gone on.