Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-09-30
D. r. & N. TRAIN HELD UP.
Engineer and Fireman Robbed High
waymen Captured.

n. track just five miles Deyond the
city limits. While the regular East
ern train, No. 9, 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 $40 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 as 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 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 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 s. in money.
The fireman was also relieved of IS.
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. K. & N. train were arrested
within 10 hours of the hold-up, and are
securely lodged in the city Jail. The
bungling clumsiness with which they
conducted the robbery characterized
laid their first plans.
They were arrested in a 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 We're covered with revolvers,
precluding any attempt at resistance
jackson and Williams, the former
being about 80 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 a room
in the lodging house at SO 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 their
room, observed fair-sized packet.
marked Handle with care" Satur-
wy HiSh' Wills uiSappcdTeu from tnelf
room, and found near where the train
was held up, containing Is sticks Of a
heavy high explosive, designated as
Hercules, No. |, powder.
The two men also went to livery
stable Sunday, took horse and single
buggy at about o'clock, and did not
return it until IL O'Clock, that night.
In this buggy was found next morning
purse that Engineer G. II. Evans
identified as being the one taken from
him by the highwaymen at the time of
the hold-up. In the purse was a Is
gold piece. which it also contained at
the time of its departure from Mr..
Evans, but he is unable to identify the
piece OF money as the one he possessed.
The story of their capture is brief.
yet reveals careful and efficient work
by the officers, and determined effort
on the part of the O. r. & y. officials
to bring the desperadoes to justice.
The great Mohammedan school at
Cairo, FL Azhar, meaning the. "Splen.
did" has clear records dating AS far
back as 975.
Fatal Runaway Accident,
Hartford, Conn., Sent 22-E Wy