The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1897-02-05

HELDUP.
The Overland Stopped and Express
Car Bombed and Robbed.

One of the most thrilling railroad hold
ups in the history of the Pacific coast
occurred about II :l5 o'clock last night,
two miles the other side of Roseburg.
At that place q flag signal was given
ahead for the train to stop. The engi-
neer, Dick Morris, stopped the train. At
Myrtle Point man evidently tramp
had climbed upon the blind baggage, but
as it was a common proceeding, nothing
was thou ht Of it ct the time. When
the train stopped he climbed over the
tender, with a mask on his face AMI two
revolve-s in his hands and cody inform
ed the engineer and fireman that he
would run the engine. In the meantime
as the train stopped the conductor, Sam
Neatch, and Brakeman Carter, jumped
VI on the ground to see what was the
matter. Two bullets whist.ed EAST their
heads and they were not slow ia getting
into the passenger cars.
Butler, the express messenger, OPEN
ed the door OF the car and fired twice
and then fled into the front passenger
car. As he did so bomb followed HIM
striking low, but causing a shock that
broke several windows. Then two men
appeared, uncoupied the train between
the express and passenger car and Il @
new man IN the en- inc pulled the train
up two or three hundred yards where
Il stopped, as the air coupling had not
been properly broken ard the brakes
were set. The engineer was ordered TO
the ground, and the fireman slipped off
the other side and ran for ROseburg.
The engineer was marched 10 the ex-
press car, and ordered TO turn his back,
when bombs were thrown under the
safes. The small local safes were bio sn
up aud the contents, which were not
much, taken. The big safe containing
the valuabies remained intact. One OF
the men vent 10 the mail car and order
ed the door opened. The clerk Cnas.
Piper, brother OF Mrs. E. W. Langdon
0s this city, opened the door, aud n man
about ) feet 8. weighing less than $50,
appeared fully masked.
Quick now, hand out the registered
sacks, said the man very coolIy.
Charley gave him one, which was al-
most empty.
The other now" but there was no
other and the fellow left, a man on the
outside cussing him all the time Tor his
slowness Mr.. Piper thinks from the
talking that there Eere lour or five men
all together, bat only three were seen.
Then the men fled in the darkness.
The b"mbs had sct IRE to the express
car, and il was blazing fiereely and nolh-
ing could be gotten from il. II WAS fall
OF drOmmefs trunks and all were burned.
A iegeiry drummer stated at this city
on the arrival OF the train at 10 O'Clock
iila. he lnss $1,000 in samples By the
tre The end OF the mail car vas bad v
burned, and would have been entirely
consumed, but Tor the prompt action OF
The mail clerk Mr.. Piper. who, Nith the
engineer Mr.. Morris, worked faithfully
wIIh wafer in saving the car. Daring
the hold up = bomb struck under the car
and Mr. Piper said 10 the DExocEAI man
that il seemed as IL IL raised the car .
foot.
The passengers did moi get excited
The front car contained several drum
mers, Nho proceeded 10 hide all their
N 'aAbIes very quickly, bat il Vas Gn-
necessary Sc they were not disturbed.
One immigrant with his family Was on
the front seat Of the car when the first
bomb was thrown that broke windows
all around him; but he simply KEEP, his
seat, and there Vas no screaming.
In the meantime the fireman had fed
like deer for Rosebarg. never stopping
until he reached the city. Superiniend-
ent Elel Is himself was there. An en-
gIGe VAS secured, a posse OF men fGily
armed called out, and II was only about
hall an hoar before they we're at the
scene OF the hold up. Four separate
tracks we're traced for some distance
from the train. bu, the men weEe not Sc
cured. They had elk hours of darkness
in which 10 escape. The mea could not
be sufficiently described TO be identified
il captured. so well we're they disguised
Il required about four hour OF hard
woEk 10 clear the track of the debris of
the burned car. When the train reached
Albany at 10 O'Clock, a good sized crowd,
who hsd heard OF the affair. VAS present
10 see il, and learn TIE particulars.