New-York tribune., 1900-04-06
DESPERADOES AT WORK.
SIX HAVE BRUSH WITH WESTCHES-
TER POLICE

| lex POLICE.
| desperate band of safe blowers consisting 2
OF five white and one negro made a visit
to Westchester County early yesterday morn
Ing. At Larchmont they attempted TO rob the
postofnce, but just as they were about to blow
! open the safe with dynamite they were dis
| covered by Policemen O'Brien and Mcclure
! who had been attracted by the light in the
building The policemen to the front door,
| but the burglars, who had been warned by
picket, escaped through a rear window and fed
| down the New-Haven Railroad tracks toward
Mamaroneck. They were followed by the po-
licemen, who fired at them several times The
burglars kept up fire in response as they ran.
one or the burglars. the policemen declare was
an expert with revolver. he fired at them
| four times by pointing the revolver behind him
as he ran.
No one hurt in the fusade and the po-
lice, supposing that the robbers were nothing
more than a band Of desperate tramps did not
pursue them after they had crossed the Mamar-
oneck line. They returned to the postoffice
and found that the burglars had broken off the
dial of the safe and had inserted charge of
| dynamite. small amount Of money and
stamps were missing.
1t was about 2 o'clock when the burglars fed
from Larchmont About half hour later
William Eastwood, the night watchnan at the
Mamaroneck freight station while sitting in his
ofice. was aroused by some one pounding on a
car outside Mr. Eastwood is about sixty years
old Taking his revolver, he started out to find
who was making the noise. He had scarcely un-
bolted and opened the door when FIVE revolvers
were pointed in his face In the darkness he
saw five men, with their faces partly covered
by handkerchiefs. One of them was a colored
man.
Throw up your hands, shouted the burglars
in chorus.
SHOT GRAZED HIS CHEEK
No, won't" replied Eastwood, as he pointed
his revolver at them. Before he could press the
trigger some knocked the weapon from his
hand. The burglars seized him and threw a
coat over his head. In the scrimmage
volver was discharged and a bullet grazed the
Watchmans cheek.
He tried to get away from them but they
knocked him down twice with black1acks When
he weak he could longer resist they
dragged him into the Office and made him sit in
g chair while they bound him firmly with ropes.
When this was accomplished the leader of the
burglars who Eastwood says talked more like
a college graduate than a footpad presented
himself in front of him and said:
Before proceed to do this job I want you
10 tell us whether you have been able to recog-
nize any of us. We are organized band doing
business throughout the country, and one of our
rules is that If any one ever appears against US
in court him down and put him of
the way if we have TO follow him to the end Of
Eastwood replied that he had not been able to
distinguish any Of his captors. The leader
then order a mar who had been standing
Eastwood and pressing revolver to his temple
70 take it away
COMPLIMENTED BY BURGLAR.
You brave man." continued the burglar
You defended this place tonight with your life
and you may be sure that will not harm one
hair of your head All we ask of you is to keep
quiet and refrain from giving any trouble"
While the other men were engaged in prepar-
ing the charge Of dynamite to blow open the safe
their leader sat near Eastwood and conversed
with him pleasantly
Once the watChman thought of A scheme 10
f1ghten the burglars away. Asking his guards
man what time it was, and being told that it
was nearly o'clock, he said
This is about the time the other watchrnan
comes on. and he usually has some friends with
him. If you fellows don't want TO be caught
you'd better not wait to open the safe"
"Oh. no you don't" replied the burglar The
other watchman is not due here until o'clock.
New-Haven road for years and we know as
much about II as your superintendent"
EXPLOSION SHOOK BUILDING.
When the burglars ready to light the
fuse they all went TO corner OF the room and
dragged Eastwood and his chair after them
Presently there was an explosion, which shook
the building and filled it with smoke. In the
excitement Eastwood felt some one reach into
his pockets and take his watch and revolver
When the leader Of the burglars found that the
SdIe con oHlE NO ne seemed 10 he deeply
disappointed, end said he had been told that
there was S400 in it,
The burglars before departing left the cOlored
man to watch Eastwood. The man sat notion
less at the captive's side for two hours. Then
believing that his companions had obtained a
good start, he slipped quietly out and locked the
door behind him. About daylight a man who is
accustomed to pass the freight station on his
way to work came and raped at the door
Eastwood called to the TO go TO the home of
Timothy Lynch the freight agent and tell him |
OF his condition. Lynch arrived about o'clock |
and it took him about twenty minutes to re-
lease the watchman.