The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-18
TRAIN HELD UP
SOUTH BOUND SANTA FE STOPPED
BY ROBBERS AT EDMOND, o. T.

Trying to Blow the Safe Open with
Dynamite-They Did No. Attempt to
Bother the PasseuEers-1hree Men
Climbed Over the Tender and Com
msnded Engiu Ger Rain to Cone to 2
st,p-Fired Many Shots.
The Santa Fe passenger train which
leaves Wichita al $50 p m, going south
was held up Monday nigh; a. u o'clock
about a mile and half south OF Ed
mond, o. T., by eight masked men. The
train was in charge of Conductor Frank
Beers Of Newton. John Rain was the
engineer and Pat Condor, fireman, who
were running the locomotive.
Conductor Beers was seen last night
a. $50 as ne was going north. He said
that ne had gone through the train col
lecting tickets after leaving Edmond.
and had got as far as the Pullman car
when ne noticed the train begin TO slow
up. He hurried forward through the
train, and when he got 10 the smoker
the train had stopped. He jumped off
and started forward 10 the engine. He
only walked few feet when one Of the
robbers said: Get back in that car, You
-, or I'll kill you" AS soon as the
robber made the remark ne shot off his
Winchester. Mr.. Beers stood still, stand
ing close 10 the car. The highwayman
repeated the remark and fred again.
This time Mr.. Beers heard the buzz Of
the bullet and got back in the car. Mr..
Beers fiagman jumped out OF the car
with a lantern in his hand and was shot
al and told 10 get back in the car where
he belonged. He got back wi:hou. par
ley or ado.
The train robbers fred off their revolt
vers and Winchesters and SHOT through
thoroughly frightened but were claimed
by a talk from Mr.. Beers and his brake
men. The robbers tried 10 get INFO the
express car, but W. H. May, the express
messenger, and Mr.. Lyle, route agent,
would not open the doors until told that
the car would be blown up with dynamite
They were taken out Of the car under an
OS~Oi VI w IllNHCSlcIS anu Tie IODDtlS
tried 10 blow open the big safe with dy-
Mantle. They were unsuccessful in their
attempt to open the safe, so they ordered
Mr.. May and Mr.. Lyle back into the car.
They then made them open the small 10
cal safe, which fortunately contained no
money. The robbers then held short
consultation and told the engineer TO pull
out, which was needed with pleasure.
II is supposed that three OF the men
got on the front blind baggage when
the train stopped for coal in the lower
end OF the yards at Edmond. The others
met the train with a bulls eye lantern
and tagged the train as it approached.
der and drew bead on the engineer and
fireman and commanded them to stop
Conductor Beers has been running into
the territory ever since the road was
built, and Monday night was the first
time he was ever held up. although there
were many train robberies a few years
ago. It was during the reign Of the Dali
tons that the Santa Fe transferred all
monies and valuabies on board the even
ing train at Wichita, sending the money
down on the morning train. This rule
rs still in force, and even had the robbers
succeeded in blowing open the big safe
they would not have gotten anything
A posse was organized and have gone
in pursuit OF the robbers. They have
found where they 'camped. and are in
hopes Of catching them. They are be-
lieved to be experienced hands al the
business and very tough fellows. If the
posse overtakes them there will no doubt
be fight.