Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-01
ENGINEERS GOLD WATCH
THE ROBBERS ONLY LOOT.
BALTIMORE a ONO vESTt8uLED
LIMITED HELD Up NEAR
CHICAGO.
TWO NAIL CARS DYNAMITED
UNDER THE BELIEF THAT THEY
WE'RE EMPRESS CARS-NO
ONE INJURED.

CHICAGO. July S1.--The Baltimore a.
Ohio passenger train from the east
which is due to arrive in the Grand
Central depot, Chicago. at 9 o'clock
tonight, was held up by five masked
men at s o'clock between Edgemore
and Grand Calumet Heights, Ind, thir-
ty-one miles out from Chicago. One
of the mail cars which contained no
money. was dynamited and wrecked.
The attempted robbery was made after
the two mail cars had been detached
from the train and run quarter OF a
mile ahead. The failure of the rob
bers to make a rich haul was due to
the fact that the express car, which
contained the trains treasure, was In
an unusual place. II was the third car
in the train. After wrecking the mail
cars and obtaining no booty the robbers
disappeared In the darkness without
attempting to restify their mistake.
The only loot they carried away with
them as result of their adventure was
the gold watch of the engineer
The train was the New York and
Washington vestibuled limited Most
of
The Trainmcn Were shot At
and had narrow escapes from the bull
let's No person was injured, either by
the dynamite or firearms.
The place where the robbery occur
red is lonely district in which few
people live and houses are far between.
No better place for train robbery
could be desired by the robbers.
The train was running at high rate
of speed as it passed Calumet Heights,
and Immediately after passing out OF
sight of the station Engineer J. w.
Collins saw directly in front Of his en-
CINE a large fire ON which some rails
had been placed He slowed down, and
as he did SO, three men wearing masks
over their Faces jumped into the cab
and covered Collins and his fireman,
James Whipple, with revolvers. Just
before climbing into the cab, the three
men commenced to fire with their re-
volvers In order to frighten away all
assistance. The shots produced the
liveliest kind of panic In the sleeping
cars where the passengers made every
effort to hide their money and valu-
ables before the robbers could get at
them. No attempt was made, however,
to rob any OF the passengers. The fu-
siilade had the effect Of making them
keep inside the cars.
After mounting into the cab OF the
engine, the robbers covering the engin-
eer and fireman
with Their RevoIvers,
made them step down and go back the
length of two cars. They ordered the
men to uncouple the first two cars,
which was done. They then hustled
the two trainmen back into the cab and
still keeping the engineer covered with
revolvers, directed him to pull up some
distance from the rest OF the train.
Collins ran up two hundred feet and was
then directed to stop. He did so. and
while one of the men remained to guard
him the others jumped off and hurting
dynamite at the door of the car which
they Judged to be the express car, burst
open the door. Hastily climbing In 10
get at the safe they were astonished
to find that they had broken into mail
car. They threatened the engineer with
death for not telling them the cars
which he had uncoupled were not ex-
press cars, and ordered him to return
at once and uncouple the next car be-
hind the baggage cars. Climbing once
more into his cab, Collins backed his
engine down, coupled onto the third
car. which the fireman was made to I'M
couple at the rear end, and still with
the muzzle of the revolver at his head,
Collins was ordered to run down the
track as before He drew away from
the balance of the train about the same
distance as on the first occasion, the
robbers still leaving him under the
charge of one of their number made for
the car. When they reached it they
found to their great wrath that they had
attacked another mail car and that 1t
no money. The train had
been delayed now fully thirty minutes.
and fearing that If they delayed any
longer help would be coming to the
train crew, the robbers gave up their
attempt to rob the train, and jumping
down ran into thicket Of scrub oaks
at the side of the track and disappeared.
The trains was hastily made up and
came on the Chicago, arriving here
somewhat late, a stop having been made
at Whiting to report the robbery.
1t is estimated that $4,000 was stored
In the express car and it Is believed
the robbers knew of the large amounts
If money and valuables aboard.
All to be Promoted.