The evening times., 1900-04-06
A Brave OLD WATCHMAN
He Defends His Post Against Six
Armed Burglars.
overcome ard Tied i'm n Chair While
the Robbers Loot the Railroad Of
flee Under His Charge. Only to BE
Disappointed at the Small Amount
of Plunder Secured by Them.

MAMARONECK, n. Y, April Six
daring burglars. after robbing the Larch-
mont postoffice at o'clock yesterday
morning, walked to Mamaroneck, where
they bound and gagged William Easf man
the aged night watchman at the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Companys station, blew open the safe
and carried away the contents.
Eastman, who attempted to defend the
place with his revolver against the bur
glars. was shot in the cheek. This did not
curb the fighting old watchman, who then
was struck twice uron the head with
club. dragged across the room. and bound
glars proceeded to blow open the safe.
The robbery was the most daring that has
ever taken place in Mamaroneck.
While Policemen Mcclure and O'Brien.
of the Larchmont Police Department, were
patroling near the postoffice at O'Clock
yesterday morning they saw a light in the
back room. Peering through a side win
dow. the policemen saw six burglars at
work drilling hole in the safe. The po-
licemen entered by way Of the front door.
but the burglars, who heard them coming
fed by way of a rear window. The men
followed by the policemen who emptied
their revolvers at them. Four of the bur
glars stood their ground for a moment and
fired six times at the policemen. who es-
capped unhurt Mcclure and O'Brien chased
fhA
robbers continued up the railroad tracks
A half hour later when William Sastman
night watchman. Was seated by the fire in
the New York, New Haven and Hartford
Companys freight Office at Mamaroneck
he heard some one hammeIing on a ear
outside OF the door. Eastman who has eel
ebrated his sixtieth birthday. thought that
some one was trying 10 steal coal drew
his revolver and opened the door
Six men, who had been concealed behind
the building. sprang out upon him. and
flashing revolvers. yelled I'm chorus.
Throw your hands up"
No, | WON'T" shouted the old watchman
when he had recovered himself. Eastman
was in the act of drawing his revolver
when he received heavy blow upon the
arm. which knocked the weapon out of his
hand. One of the burglars revolvers ex-
cheek. Eastman fought his captors. who
then dealt him two heay blows upon the
head. This felled the old man TO his
knees. and he was dragged. while in a
semi-conscious condition. across the floor
10 his old chair, where he was then bound
hand and foot. The leader of - the band
said: Before We proceed ! want to know
if you recognize any of us. We are an or
ganiZed band of crooks. operating through |
out the country. II anyone ever appears |
against anyone of us in court We will kill |
him. if we have to follow him for years.
Il don't know you sobbed Eastman. |
whose head panied him and blood trickled |
lown his cheeks. Then the leader said:
"Ail we ask is that you keep quiet and |
make no trouble
Il guess I'll do that calculated East
nan.
The dial was beaten off the safe and a
harge of dynamite inserted An instant
ster a terrific explosion took place and
he huge iron door of the safe swung open
The leader stepped up to the safe and took
ut the money drawer. To his surprise
here was only $50 in it, This angered the
eader. who had some hot words with his
omrades. Addressing one as Jack, he
aid: II thought you said there was s400
n this place tonight. This amount isn't
vorth coming after. Ii wouldn't buy the
rinks for the crowd
Shortly after o'clock a villager. on his
vay to work, looked in the freight Office
nd saw Eastman tied in the chair. The
Id man was taken home and as result
( his experience is sick. Railroad detec-
ives are al work upon the case.