The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-25
HE PREVENTS THE L0OTlNG OF HIS
CAR BY HlGHMe'..
SHOTGUN AGAINST DYNAMITE
Robbers Hold Up q southern Pacific
Train-Express Carr Attacked-Afee-
Uses His shotgun Freefy-Dynamffe
the Messenger Returns to the Roh-
bers Before &c Explodes-The Attack
Abandoned
Abandoned

Abandoned
Eugene, Ore. October s5-Tha
acrthbound Southern Pacific overland
exri ess. due here at 3:4s O'Clock n. m !.
was held up by robbers near Walkers
station, fifteen miles south OF here. at
O'Clock this morning and the EXPRESS
car badly damaged, but the robbers Sc
cured little booty.
Two men boarded the train at Get
tage Grove as the train pulled out. At
ter passing Walkers, which Is four
miles from Cottage Grove. they climb
ed over the tender and covered Engi-
neer Nichols and the fireman and his
helper with revoIvers.
The robbers ordered the train stopped.
after which the fireman and helper were
compelled to uncouple the train be-
tween the express car and the first
coach. Engineer Nichols was then or
dered to pull ahead, the fireman and
helper being left behind. After going q
snort distance the train was stopped
and the robbers proceeded TO the ex-
press car, taking with them the engi-
neer.
The express car was blown open
with dynamite and express messenger
Charles was ordered out but he refas-
ed TO go and with his shot gun com.
manded the situation inside the car
The robbers told him to come out or he
would be blown up with the car, but
he replied: BLOW ahead" A fusilIade
of bullets followed. riddling the car.
but the messenger who was uninjured
keptAap a continuous firing inside
which held the robbers at bay.
A charge OF dynamite was then
thrown into the car with q burning
fuse, but Charles grabbed it and threw
it outside where il exploded.
Next the robbers compelled the engi-
neer to crawl up to the opening inside
the car, hoping to use him as a protec-
ton from the messengers shots: but
the messenger kept up q steady fire
over the engineers head and still held
the robbers at bay.
The robbers then gave up their efforts
to secure the express treasure and
went for the mail They secured the
registered mail.
They then cut the engine from the
rest of the train and ordered Engineer
Nichols to pull ahead. They ran to Jud-
kin's Point. in the outskirts of Eugene.
where they disembarked and ordered
the engineer to return and get his
train.
The train arrived here at 7:30 O'Clock.
wired from Saginaw and officers were
out in search of the robbers early this
morning, but as yet have secured no
trace of them. They are handicapped
by having no description OF the men.
Posses from both Lave and Douglas
counties are searching for the bandits
Portland Ore, October 23.-The
Southern Pacific train which was held
UP near Eugene this morning arrived
here this evening. The express car is
badly shattered, but & was brought In
with the train.
"The first intimation I had OF any
thing wrong" said c. Z. Charles, the
express messenger, was when the train
began to slow up near Walkers station.
1t was 2:45 o'clock, os near as / re-
member. Shortly after that the train
came to a standstill and was ordered
to open the door. I refused to move.
Open up this car or We viii blow you
to hell commanded one OF the robbers.
I made no response and was given q
salute with dynamite. The first charge
blew open one of the doors and knocked
me down. My overall5 were blown into
shreds and my legs scratched somewhat.
but otherwise / was unhurt. Further
commands were made TO open up and
threats followed. but without avail.
made no reply. knowing that the OBJ
ject of the robbers was TO locate me In
the car and then try 10 put me out OF
the way, either by dynamite or bullets
/ changed my station 20 the other end
Of the car. A second shot blew open
the door at the other end OF the car.
The third shot failed 10 go of rs had
removed my shoes ana quietly walked
over to the dynamite and detached ths
fuse. Two more shots exploded. each
of them blowing a mole In the floor OF
the car. All told, four shots went OF
in the car, two failed to explode and
one I prevented from exploding by re-
move the fuse. All efforts 10 compel
me to open up or leave the car falling.
the engineer was sent IN through the
opening blown into the side I ordered
him to get out. and fired shot over
his head with my shot gun. The entire
ceremony lasted about forty minutes.
The engineer retired after I fired the
shot and ordered him 10 leave. and I
was not molested further"
San Francisco, October o. - The
Southern Pacific company has offered
a reward Of $3.50 for the arrest of each
OF the robbers implicated in the Engene,
Ore, hold up.
Eugene. Ore, October Z.-Ofhcers
who have been searching for the train
robbers today have been unable to se-
cure any trace of the men, Their
tracks show that they started toward
Engene after leaving the engine. There
Is absolutely no clue to taeir identity. +.