The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-31
HELD UP ON THE DESERT
A Union Pacific Express Car Dyna-
mited and Robbed.
Bold Work by Four Masked Bnndits-
They Flee Toward the HoIe-in-thc-
Wall With Large Amount of
Booty-The Passengers Terrified
Woman Swallows a Diamond Ring.

CHEYENNE. wyo.. Aug. So.-The Sec
ond section of passenger train No. 3. on
the Union Pacific known as the Overland
Flyer. was held UP near Upton Station
last night by four men. The baggage car
and express car were shattered with dy
Mantle and the safes opened by the same
means The loss is believed TO have been
considerable. United States Marshal Had
sail has raised posse Of men at Raw
Iins and gone on special train to the
scene The railroad is said to be about to
offer a reward of s1.0Oo
The train consisted of FIVE trans-conti-
mental sleepers and two express cars.
Many Eastern people were aboard and
when the thunderous reports from the ex-
press car. as it was being dynamited,
awoke the passengers pandemonium reign
ed supreme.
The point OF attack was the centre of
the Red Dessert. one of the loneliest
places along the road. -Four masked ban
dts stood beside the track with their
horses tied conveniently near to tele-
graph pole. They swung red light across
the track and as the engine came to
standstill. covered the engineer with ri
fes. The conductor ran forward to as
certain the cause of the trouble and was
promptly shot at. The bullet grazed his
head and he ran into the sleepers, shout
ing for the passengers to conceal their
sYaluabies as the road agents were coming
through.
rrbi- r,artad q wild ecrar,bla ,,oone tho
passengers Mrs. Harris German, of Al
bany. " Y. wearing a large number of
diamonds. deliberately swallowed a $500
diamond ring to prevent the robbers TAX
ing it.
S. Livingstone Murray, Assistant Sur
geon at Fort Hancock n. j., en- route with
friends from New York City to San Fran
cisco. barricaded the doors of the sleeper
he was in and vita a big pistol stood
ready to shoot the bandit who attempted
to enter the car. The robbers first dis
cussed the ACCESSIBILITY Of robbing the
sleeping car passengers, but later decided
IL blow the express safe to pieces and
then II the booty was not sufficient to go
through the sieepers. The safe was dy-
namited while the car was still attached
to the train.
The explosion was terrific, and the sleep
ers rocked as if a great storm was sweep
ing over the spot The robbers went into
the wrecked car, and large sack. holding
at least a bushel was filed with the booty
secGred- This was tied to horse and
seemed TO be sufficient to satisfy the rob-
bers. They held short consultation, and
after requiring the express messenger to
hand out TO them a quantity of food they
fired a yolley from their rifles and started
at gallop over the desert taking the di-
rection of Denver.
A posse was in pursuit In an hour. and
found that the robbers turned when out OF
sight OF the train and hurried toward the
Eoie-in- the Wall country. Toward this
rendezvous the posse is now speeding, try
ing TO head OF the road agents.
II wss rear this spot a year ago tbs
Overland Express was dynamited and
sensational chase Of forty Gays resulted In
the robbers escaping after killing some of
their pursuers. II IS considered desper-
ate undertaking to follow these robbers,
as they az undoubtedly armed with long
range rifles. with snoksless powder, and
know every foot of the country