Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-02
THE BURGLARS NOW SURROUNDED.
Driven to Shelter in SWamp---2O0 or
800 Men on Guard -Capture
Soon Expected.

| Lewiston. Me, June IA special to
| the journal from Buckfl"ld states that
| burglars blew the post ofic" in that
village. last night. The outer door ~
the safe was thrown across the Office,
which is in the store Of Alfred cole.
The office furniture was practically
ruined and the front Of the store was
| blown out by the terrific explosion.
The noise awakened everyone in the
village.
| Albert Tiltnn, who lives nearest the
| Cole store, leaped through the window
ana saw smoke rushing from the shat
! tered front of the post office building.
| He Immediately seized his Winches-
| ter ana pumped nine shots into the
store. but the burglars had already
| made their escape through n rear door
| by which they had entered. Nearly all
| the people in the village turned out
at the sound Of the expl sion ana the
| hombardment undertaken by Tiltun.
Many we're armed with guns In a flw
moments the robbers were located run
ming down the track of the Portland x
Rumford Falls road.
The citizens ut once set off in pur-
suit. firing at the fugitives as they ran.
| The robbers turned and replied with
shots from their REVIEWERS and Tor a
| FEW minutes pitched battle was car
rird on. Then the burglars again took
their heels and ran down the track.
The Buckftcld people ran after them
ana chased them for mile ana 4 half
Here the robbers took t. thu woods
and were soon hidden in n dense
thiCkn where it seemed useless to fol-
low them.
Several hundred men We're immedi-
Itcly posted around the woods and
others We're summoned from the coun-
try surrounding. ana. at ddybrcak. All
the highways in the section ard all the
approaches to the woods W. r. guarded.
Sheriff Tucker ana Deputy Sheriff
Fred 4. Porter of Rumford Fails. two
courageous and lcvel-hcaded men, have
been summoned to take command
They will attempt to drive the men
nut into the open and capture them.
Tho robbers will be shot down if
they attempt to force Il resistance.
All the country surrounding the
woods is open and it is felt that the
robbers have been brought To bay
here.
Investigation shows that the bur
glars failed to effect an entrance to tn"
steel vault of the post office safe.
Therefore. AL the money ana the pa
pers are secure. though they cannot
be reached until an expert arrives from
the city.
This is the sixth time the post office
at Buckfield has been entered and the
third time the safe has been blown.
The men also entered Spaulding x
sons gun store and secured few dol
lars in money.
From descriptions furnished by those
who chased the men. last night, 1t APP
gang that operated at South Berwick
p ars quite certain that this is the gang
that operated ut South Berwick, Saw
yers Bros store in Greene, and in
Mechanic Falls.
Lewiston has proffered assistance
with her police force if help is re
quired.
At about o'clock Friday morning
the whole village Of Buckfield was
startled by a tremendous explosion
that ratified windows and fairly shook |
the ground.
THE stationery and book store Of Al !
fred Cole is in the center of the bust |
ness section or the village and con- |
tains the post office. Mr. Cole is the
postmaster.
Near the post office lives Bert Tilton. !
He heard the explosion. leapod out Of
bed and dashed to the window. He
saw volumes Of smoke rushing from
the broken windows Of the post office. |
He realized what had happened. H
ran back into the room, grabbed up
his Winchester that was standing con
venient to hand ana pumped nine shots
rapidly into the front Of the post office.
This terrific bOmbardment following
the mighty blast Of the explosion
awakened every one i'll the village !