Gilpin observer., 1900-09-06
DETAILS OF DARING
TRAIN ROBBERY


from Cheyenne to the Republican says:
The hold-up and robbery Of the Union
Pacific fast mail and express train,
near Table Rock. Wednesday night,
was the boldest and most successful
piece of work ever accomplished in the
West, and from present Indications the
perpetrators of the crime have es-
capped. The robbery occurred about
$50 o'clock Wednesday night. No one
was injured, as the robbers were not
interefered with; neither did they mo-
lest the passengers nor train hands
aside from compelling the latter to do
their bidding. Owing to the scene of
the hold-up being in an isolated spot
and distant several miles from the
nearest railway station, several hours
elapsed before a report of the affair
was received and posses started out.
and 1t was not until daylight that the
first posse, organized at Rock Springs,
got started on the trail. The posse of
twenty-five men organized by United
States Marshal Hadsell at Rawlins left
the scene of the hOld-up at 10 O'Clock
this morning.
The Union Pacific railroad and Pa
cific Express Company have author
lied reward of $1,000 each for the
robbers, dead or alive, and n number
VI uetcCtlNcS anu sltNi.ii oii'NiS "iN
hurrying to the scene to take up the
trail 1t is the opinion of everyone ia
miliar with the hold-up that the affair
was the work of professionals; either
members of Butch Cassiday's gang or
some of the Arizona outlaws who were
chased to the mountains south of Ia
BILE Rock and who have been operating
in that district for some time. AS the
trail leads in the direction of the Book
mountains and the Browns Park rem
devious the officers believe that the out
laws are endeavoring to reach that sec
tion. Should they succeed before the
posses overtake them there will be lit
tie use in continuing the chase, as the
bandits will be comparatively safe in
the wilds of the mountains.
The story of the hold-up as told by
the engineer is as follows:
AS the train left Upton station, n
few miles east of Table Rock, n heavy
set man was seen to leave the water
tank and board the front end of the
baggage car As hundreds of tramps
are riding on trains these days, little
attention was paid to him.. After the
train had attained a moderate rate of
speed the stranger crawled out over the
tank of the engine and covered the en-
gineer and fireman with revolver, at
the same time commanding the en-
gineer to keep on going until he came
to bonfire burning alongside the
track. When this fire was reached the
man behind the gun ordered the train
stopped.
Here the lone hlghwayman was
Joined by three other men, all wearing
pieces of cloth over their faces. One
ran back and covered Conductor Ker-
.I.t. ,l,n .s.,I
came up to ascertain the cause of the
stop. The others proceeded to cut Off
the baggage and mail cars, when the
engineer was ordered to go ahead. Run
ming down the track a distance of two
miles the cars We're again stopped. and
while one man kept the enginemen
covered the others went back to the
baggage ear. Express Messenger
Woodcock, the same man that was In
charge of the express car that was
blown up by robbers at Wilcox on
June ., 1899, was inside. an when or
dered TO open up refused.
The robbers at once placed dynamite
under the doors and Woodcock. fearing
that he would be injured In the ex-
ploslon. escaped through one of the end
doors. He was none too soon, for as he
reached the ground the dynamite cX-
ploded and shattered the sides of the
car. The robbers did not hesitate n
moment. but quickly entered the car
and blew mp the treasure safe of the
Pacific Express Company. The con
tents of the safe We're thrown into
sacks and the bandits hurried down the
track TO n point where their horses
were either being picketed or We're be
Ing held by confederate. In less time
that It takes to tell II the robbers had
looted the express car and were speed