Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-08-08
A JOKE ON BANDITS.
Tackled the Wrong Gar Of an Ex-
press Train.
Three Masked Men Hold Up n R. 81 o.
Train II Few MILES East Of CHI
cagO, but After Wrecking Two
Mail Cars They Give Ii
Up as u Bad Job.

o'clock last night, was held up by
three masked men between Edgemore
and Grand Calumet Heights, Ind, 81
miles out from Chicago. One of the
mail cars. which contained no money,
was dvnamited and wrecked The
attempt at robbery was made after
the two mail cars had been detached
from the train and run a quarter of
a mile ahead. The failure of the
robbers to make a rich haul was due
to the fact that the express car,
which contained the trains treasure,
was in an unusual place. 1t was
the third car in the train. After
wrecking the mail car and obtaining
no booty, the robbers disappeared
without attempting to rectify their
mistake. The only loot that they
carried away with them was the gold
watch of the engineer.
The place where the robbery oc-
Cured is a lonely district in which
few people live, and houses are far
between. No better place for a
train robbery could be desired by the
robbers.
The train was running at a high
rate of speed as it passed Calumet
Heights. and Immediately after pass
ing out of sight of the station Engi-
neer Collins saw directly in front of
his engine 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 Col
Inns and his fireman, James Whipple,
with revolyers.
just before climbing into the cab,
the three men commenced to fire with
their revolvers in order TO fri9htep
away all assistance. The shots pro-
duced the liveliest kind of a panic in
the sleeping cars, where the passen'
gers made every effort to hide their
money and valuables before the rob,
bers could get at them. No attempt
was made, however, to rob any OF
the passengers. The fusilade had the
effect of making them keep inside the
cars.
After mounting into the cab of the
engine, the robbers covered the en-
gineer and fremen with their revol-
vers, and made them step down and
90 back the length of two cars. They
ordered the men to uncouple the first
two cars. which was uone. They then
hustled the two trainmen back into
the cab, and still keeping the en-
gineer covered with revolvers, they
directed him to pull up some dis
tance from the rest of the train.
Collins ran up 200 feet, and was
then directed to stop. He did so,
and while one or them remained tn
guard him, the others jumped Off.
and hurling dynamite at the door OF
the car which they judged to be the
express car, burst open the door.
Hastily climbing in to get at the safe,
they were astonished TO find that
they had broken into a mail car.
They threatened the engineer with
death for not telling them that the
cars which he had uncoupled were
not express cars, and ordered him
to return at once and uncouple the
next car behind the baggage cars.
Climbing once more into his cab, Col
Inns backed his engine down, coupled
on to the third ear, which the fire.
man was made to uncouple 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, and
the robbers, still leaving him under
the charge of one of their number
made for this ear. When they reached
it, they found that they had attacked
another mail car and that it contained
no money.
The train had been delayed now
fully 30 minutes, and, fearing that if
they delayed 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
train came ON to Chicago and officers
were at once sent after the robbers.
Charles Cross, conductor of the
train, brought into the city several
sticks of dynamite that had been left
by the robbers at the side of the
track.
Il heard some shooting" said the
conductor, land looked out to see
what was the matter. | saw the
engineer and fireman running down
the track followed by three men. |
had no time to look at more than
that, for | saw two flashes of flame
close to the car, and a bullet went
by my head as one of them called
out: Keep your head in there if
you don't want it blown off,"
+. \. Applegate, of Newark, o., was
the express messenger, and was alone
in his car. lie had no idea that
robbery was being attempted until
he heard the shooting on the out
side. He then seized rifle and,
climbing on the top of the safe,
awaited developments, determined to
make the best fight in his power. He
was not molested in any way, how
ever.
1t is estimated that $4,000 was
stored in the express car, and it is
believed the robbers knew of the
large amount of money aboard.
Indicted for EmbezZIement.
porpp Ga AnU " II Sanford