The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-10-30
BRAVE MESSENGER.
HIS Is SombaTdad With Dynamite
but Hold His Car
AGAINST A RossER BAND.
Blew Opan Doors Of Express Car,
But Messenger Hurls Out
Lighted Dynamite Bombs
They Toss In.

The northbound Southern Pacific over
land express, due at Eugene Oregon, at
3,43 =. H., Has held up By robbers near
Wsike1's station, Is miles South Of
Eugene at O'Clock Wednesday morn
ing sad the express car badly damaged,
ba6 the robbers secured little booty.
Two nsn bearded the train st Cottage
Grove as tie train pulled out. After
passing Walkers, which is four miles
from Cottage Grove, they climbed over
the tender and covered Engineer Jack
N!cao:s aad the fireman and his helper
with rsValVsrs. The robbers ordered
the train stopped after which the ire
man and helper were compelled to>un-
couple the train between the express
car snd the first coach. Engineer
Nicnols wss then ordered to pull ahead,
the frensu and helper being left be-
hind. after going snort distance the
train vas stopped and the robbers pro-
ceeded 20 the express Car, taking With
them the engineer. The express Car
Vas blown opsn with dynamite and
Messenger G. E. Charles was ordered
out, but lie refused to go, and With his
shotgun commanded the situation in
side she car.
The robbers told MIN to come out
or be would be blown up with the car,
but be replied ''bloW ahead" A fussl-
lade Of bullets followed, Kidding the
car, but the messenger, who was IN
injured, kept up continuous firing
inside which held the robbers at bay.
A charge Of dynamite was then thrown
into the Car wish burning fuse, but
Charles grabbed it aad threw it out
side where it exploded. Next the rob-
bers compelled the enigneer to crawl
up to the opening inside Of the car,
hoping to uss him as protection from
the messengers shots, but the mes
sanger kept up steady fire over che
engineers head and still held the rob-
bsrs at bay. The robbers then gave up
their Efforts to secure the express
treasure and vent for the mail. They
secured the registered mail, then cut
the engine from the rest Of the train
and ordered Engineer Nichols to pull
ahead. They ran to J1dkin's Point, in
the outskirts Of Eugene, where they
disambarked and ordered the engineer
to return and get his train. The train
arrived at Eugene at 7.30, about four
hours late. The news wired from Sag.
insW sod officers were out in search Of
the robbers early Wednesday morning,
but asyet have secured 70 trace Of
them. They are handicapped By haV-
ing no description Of the men. Posses
from Lave and Douglas counties are
searching for the bandits.
''Hhe first intimation had Of any
thing Wsosg," ssid q. E. Charles, the
express messenger, was when the
train began to SLOW up near Walkers
station. Il was 2.45 o'clock, as near as
I remember. Shortly after that the
train came to 3 ssandstill and I was
ordered to open the door. I refused to
move. Open up this car or We will
blow you to hell commanded one Of
the robbers. Imsde no response and
was given salute with dynamite. The
first charge blew opsn one Of the doors
and knocked me down. My oVeralls
were blown into shrads and my legs
scratched somewhat, but otherwise l
was unhurG. Further commands to
opan up and threats followed, but
WlshouS avil. nads no reply, know
ing that the object Of the robbers was
to locate me- In the car and then Try
to put ne out Of the way, either By
bullets or dynamite. I changed my sta.
tion to the other end of the Car. a
second SHOT blew open the door at the
other end Of the car. The third shot
failed to go off, az J had removed my
shoes snd quietly walked over to the
dynamite and detached the fuse. Two
more shots exploded, each of them
bIoaing hols II the Soor Of the car.
All toid, four shoss went of IN the car,
Two fai.ed TO eXpio1e and one prevent
ed from exploiting by removing the
fuse. All e9erss to compel me- to. open
up os leave The oar failing, the engineer
WAS sent Il through the opening blown
IN the sido. | ordered him to get ont,
and frea shot over his head with my
sn0:gu2. ...he entire ceremony lasted
aooaa 40 minutes. The sngiaeer retired
ai;er / 6geG the shot and ordered him
70 leave, a1d l was not molestsd fur
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