The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-10-07

Engineer and Fireman Robbed-High-
waymen Captured.

Engineer and Fireman Robbed-High-
waymen Captured.
Portland, Or, Sept. 28.-One OF the
boldest attempts to hold up train re-
ported here for years occurred Sunday
evening at 9:25 o'clock on the 0. r. q
N. track just five miles beyond the
city limits. While the regular East
ern train, No. 2, was leaving the city,
two masked men succeeded in stopping
the engine by some signal, and after
taking the engineer and fireman into
the brush beside the track, robbed them
of their watches and about SIC in
money. The brakeman went forward
as soon as the train stopped, and taking
in the situation, crawled under the
mail car and opened fire on the rob-
bers, who got into the brush with their
two prisoners. Then he mounted the
cab, and, amidst volley of pistol shots,
succeeded in backing the train out OF
danger. No one was injured, and moth
ing was lost except what was taken
from the engineer and fireman while
their captors had them under guard IN
the brush by the track.
Conductor Allison was made aware
of the trouble by the slackened speed OF
the train. The brakeman was ahead
of him in going forward, and had en-
gagged in the combat with the highway
men before he reached the upper end.
He was approaching the scene of the
shooting, carrying his lantern, when a
shot from one of the robbers broke the
globe. Realizing that something seri-
Gus was in progress, he retired hastily
to the interior of one of the coaches.
AS soon as the conductor found that the
train was backed far enough to be out
of danger he had it stopped, and him.
self armed, with the brakeman and
some of the passengers who could mus
ter a firearm, hostile array was form
ed to receive the onslaught of the high
waymen.
The attack did not come, however,
but instead of the robbers there came
walking down the track the engineer
and fireman. They were received with
joy, and told their story after it became
apparent that the robbers intended no
further demonstration against the pas
sengers.
When the train halted, the engineer
and fireman were covered by the revolv-
ers of the highwaymen and ordered to
get out of the cab. AS the two had the
drop on the engineer and fireman, they
thought there was no other alternative,
and obeyed. AS soon as they reached
the ground they were ordered in front
of the engine a short distance from
where it stood. Following the mandate
of the robbers, they walked in the direc-
ton indicated until ordered to stop.
Both were searched for valuables. From
the engineer gold watch and chain
were secured, and about 81 in money.
The fireman was also relieved of s..
This accomplished, the two prisoners
were permitted to return down the
track to where the brakeman had run
the train, while the robbers took their
departure in another direction.
Robbers Captured.
The two highwaymen who held up
the o. r. & N. train were arrested
within Is hours of the hold-up, and are
securely lodged in the city Jail. The
bungling clumsiness with which they
conducted the robbery characterized
their movements from the time they
laid their first plans.
They were arrested in lodging house
on Seventh and Oak streets, where they
took up their quarters on arriving in
the city, and whence they returned
after their crime. They give the pre-
sumably fictitious names of George
Jackson and Charles Williams. No
lives were lost in the capture, nor was
any time wasted. The men when ar.
rested gave every evidence of being des-
perate characters, but before use could
be made of their numerous weapons,
the two were covered with revolvers,
precluding any attempt at resistance.
jackson and Williams, the former
being about 30 years of age and the
latter not more than 80, came to this
city Wednesday, on the California
steamer, stopping the first night in q
hotel, and the next day taking room
in the lodging house at 80 Seventh
street. In their room, when captured,
were found two fine double barreled
shot-guns, bearing evidence of having
been recently fired, and two large re.
volvers. Some time prior to Saturday
night the housemaid, in cleaning thei1
room, observed a fair-sized packet,
marked "Handle with care" Satur.
day night this disappeared from their
room, and found near where the train
was held up, containing Is sticks of q
heavy high explosive, designated al
Hercules, No. 1, powder.
The two men also went to a livery
stable Sunday, took horse and single
buggy at about 5 O'Clock, and did not
return it until IL O'Clock, that night
In this buggy was found next morning
purse that Engineer G. H. Evans
identified as being the one taken from
him by the highwaymen at the time o.
the hold-up. In the purse was a s.
gold piece, which it also contained a,
the time of its departure from Mr.
Evans. but he is unable to identify thu
piece of money as the one he possessed
The story of their capture is brief
yet reveals careful and efficient worl
by the officers, and determined effort
on the part of the o. R. & N. officials
to bring the desperadoes to justice.
The great Mohammedan school a
Cairo, Ell Azhar, meaning the "Splen
did" has clear records dating as fal
back as 975.