The Portland daily press., 1898-05-06

A regulation wild west hold-up was at
tie mpted about ten O'Clock last night at
the West End hotel by two masked rob-
bers. Three persons were struck with
sling shots and pretty badly hurt, twenty
five guests of the house seated about the
office were paralyzed with fear and
covered BY the robbers revolvers and
everything seemed to be working all right
for the desperadoes when they lost their
nerve and fled.
The above paragraph tells in brief the
story of one of the boldest attempts at
robbery this city has known for years. 1t
was made under the bright glare of the
electric light in the West End hotel office,
in plain sight of the street and twenty
the room were struck dumb with the sud-
denness Of the attack and were as submis
sive as lambs The night clerk, Walter
Castner, had revolver, but it was not
loaded and but for one thing the robbers
might have got away with good haul.
The one thing was travelling agent for
the Holbrook Manufacturing company of
New York, George ID. Perry Of Boston,
by name. He was the obstacle which
upset the carefully laid plans of the rob-
bers. Perry didn't appear to know that
he was being held up and his GOODNESS so
did not wait to carry out the rest of his
programme, but simply. turned and ran,
followed by his pal 1t was a grave ques.
tion at the moment the two masked men
started to run who were the most
frightened, the robbers or the people held
up.
If ever travelling men passed an excit-
ing five minutes those seated about the
pleasant office of the West End hotel did
last night. This room is very large one
and the plate glass windows form one en-
tire side of it, looking out on st. John
street and Union station. In front of
these windows are many comfortable
chairs and all Of them were occupied at
ten O'Clock last night. Over behind the
desk was Walter Castner, the brother of
the owner of the hotel A railing rs high
as ones head runs about this counter on
three sides while the front of the counter
facing the main door is not rallied off.
Mr.. Castner at the time WAS standing be-
hind this railing and talking to one of
the bell boys on the outside of the
counter.
The main entrance to the hotel office is
the one commonly used, but at the end of
the corridor separating the dining room
of the house from the office is another
door which is used as the ladies' entrance.
Near the ladies' entrance is a door which
opens directly into the office and to the
riaht of this latter door is the cigar and
news stand.
Eddie Anderson, the elevator boy of the
house, a handsome little fellow was lean
ing against this news stand talking to
Charles Adams, the boy whose duty it is
to tend the annunciator and peddle out
cigars. suddenly the door of the ladies'
entrance opened and two men sprane
through the door leading into tho hotel
office. One of them carried in his left
hand sling shot, while in the right
hand he had big navy revolver. The
other robber had two big revolvers and
the moment they got inside the Office door
they yelled:
- /. Hands up"
The men seated about the room dropped
their cigars, papers and conversation and
turned about to see two masked men with
three revolvers pointing directly at them.
They were conquered at once. The robber
with the sling shot shouted, ''hands up''
again and at tho same time strnck Chas
Adams who was behind the cigars stand
over the right ear with the weapon.
Adams fell behind the counter with the
blood running down over Eis cheek from
an ugly cash in his head.
Eddie Anderson did not wait to hold
up his hands or get struck with the sling
shot, but started for the door of the Office.
He was SO eager to get away that he fell