Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-15
A BOLD BREAK.
Three Burglars Loot the Wash
burn Post Office.
Blow Safe and Secure $4,000 IN
Stamps, Notes and Cash.
The Town Aroused by the Explosion "A Posse
in Hot Pursuit.

Washburn. Me-, Sept. 4.-(SpeciaD.-
Not for manyyears has this quiet little
hamlet in Northern Aroostook been so
excited as it now is and all on account
OF bold break into the post office,
Wednesday morning. at lao. by three
robbers and their securing $4,000 worth
of stamps, notes and cash from the
post Office and store of ]. L. Woodman
The positive identity of the men has
not been discovered at the present time
of writing but nearly the whole male
portion of the towns population is
securing the woods and roads towards
Pressure Isle and the capture of the
desperadoes is almost assured. for they
were on foot and the general direction
which they took when they left town
is known.
Up here the good people retire early
in the evening, as Is the wont of most
of the people in the small towns of the
State. AS a rule there is nothing to
disturb their sluinbers and they sleep
peacefully through the entire night I'M
til the light of a new day awakens
them.
Under these circumstances the COM
motion can more readily be imagined
than described when at LAO the air was
pierced by tremendous explosion
which sounded louder than it really
would have in a larger place. The
whole town nearly was awakened by
the explosion and heads began to pop
out of windows to see what was up.
Those in the immediate vicinity of the
store could see three men hurrying
away from the post Office with their
pockets stuffed. They started toward
Presque Isle.
/ 1t was some few moments before the
people realized what had happened but
as soon as they did there was a mad
rush for their clothes and guns and
searching parties were rapidly organ
lied to scour the woods and apprehend
the robbers.
Nearly the whole town turned out,
and had the robbers returned they
could have gotten much more booty,
for all the arms We're out in the woods
and the women were practically un-
protected. THY, however, kept their
doors and windows locked and in many
cases the nervous ones trembled in. the
corners, not knowing what to expect
Even after .daybreak at the approach
of any strangers there would be great
deal of anxiety until they had passed
OF their business was satisfactorily ex-
planned.
The robbers evidently knew their
business as there was no bungling in
preparing the fuse with which to blow
open the safe containing the valuables
The explosion was a success and the
robbers hurriedly took what they could
lay their hands on and started to evade
pursuit..
At last reports they were supposed to
be in the woods near here, but many
think they have been successful in get
ting away and have made for some sta
ton on the railroad, separately and
have escaped. If they have been able
to get out Of the reach of the town Off
Gals it is improbable that any of the
goods will be recovered unless they at
tempt to negotiate some of the notes.
The robbers took in stamps. $2e1. 13;
money belonging to the United States,
S50.07; pensions checks. $40; town or
ders of Washburn. SIPS: notes, $500:
other cash. about $50: two registered
letters Contents unknown): and about
$1,000 in notes belonging to other parties
placed in the safe for safe keeping.