The age-herald., 1901-10-24
Messenger is Attacked With Dy- namite and Pistols but
 Protects Property uP-TO-DATE HIGHVAYMaN
Wore a White Apron With Pockets Filled With Dynamite, Win chester on Back and Pis
 tols in Each Hand.

Eugene, Ore, October g. = The north bound Southern Pacific overland express train, which was due at 3:42 this morn ing, was held up by robbers near Walk CTS Station. fifteen miles south of here, at a. m. and the express car badly dam aged, but the booty of the robbers amounted to little.
 The express car was blown open with dynamite and Express Messenger c. c. Charles was ordered out, but he refused to go and with his shotgun commanded the situation inside the car. The robbers ordered him to come out or be blown up with the car. He refused to come out. The car was then riddled with bullets which did not injure the messenger, who kept up a continuous fire from the inside of the car, which held the robbers at bay.
 Resort to Dynamite.
 A charge of dynamite was then thrown into the car with a burning fuse. but Charles grabbed 1t and threw it outside, where it exploded.
 The robbers then compelled the engineer to crawl to the door of the car, hoping to have him as protection from the mes sengers shots, but the messenger kept up 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 mall car. They secured the reg istered mail, then cut the engine from the rest of the train and ordered En- gineer Nichols to pull ahead. They ran to Judgkins' Point, in the outskirts of Eugene. where they disembarked and ordered the engineer to return and get his train. The train arrived here about | T:30. being about four hours late. Officers 
 oay. but as yet have not found any trace of them. They are handicapped by hav- ing no description of the men.
 Express Messengers 5tatensent 1 Portland Ore, October 2a-lThe South- ern Pacific train which was held up neA- 1 Eugene this morning arrived here this afternoon. ''The first fntimaticn I Fad of anything wrong" said c. F. Charles. the express messenger. was when the train began to slow up near Walkers Station. Shortly after that the train came to stand still and I was ordered to open the door refused to move I was threatened with all sorts of things. Open up this car or we will blow you to hell, commanded one of the robbers. I made no response and was given salute with dynamite The first charge blew open one of the doors and knocked me down. My overalls were blown into shreds and my legs scratched somewhat, but otherwise I was unhurt. Further commands to open up and threats follow ed. but without avail. I made no reply, knowing that the object of the robbers was to locate me in the car and then to try to put me out of the way either by dynamite or bullets I changed my posi- ton to the other end of the car. sec ond shot blew open the door at the other end of the car. The third shot failed to go off as I had removed my shoes and quietly walked over to the dynamite and detached the fuse. Two more shots were exploded each of them blowing a hole in the floor of the car All efforts to compel me to open up or leave the car failing, the engineer was sent in through the opening blown into the side ordered him to get out and fired a shot over his head with shot gun. I was not molested further"
 A Modern HIghwayman. Engineer Burt Lucas said:
 The robber wore a long mask that completely covered his face and extended we'll down to his chest. He wore a sort of white apron in the pockets of which he carried sticks of dynamite. A Win chester rife was strapped over his back while in each hand he carried a large black barreled revolver about 45-calibre. The robber gave me cigar. command GU me 10 nBnL IL ana kept on puning as he desired to use it in touching of the dynamite.
 Upon reaching the express car the robber commanded the messenger to open up. No response came to his de- mand. 1 was then compelled to shoot off the dynamite and as this had no effect upon the express messenger the robber forced me to crawl into the car through one of the holes blown into the door. As I did so 1 shouted to the express messen- ger not to shoot I was directed by the messenger to get out. A shot accom- panied the command. did as directed and then told the robber there was no use to try further as the express messen- ger was heavily armed and we'll able to resist a forcibie entry of his car At the same time I called his attention to the fact that the freight was soon due and he had better get through
 With an oath the robber abandoned the attack on the express car and turned his attention to the baggage car. Assur- ing himself that there was nothing of value in this car the robber took the mail car in hand.
 ''The mail clerk was covered by the robber while I was compelled to open mail sacks. After the mail was dumped out the robber sorted it and had the mes senger 1U1d the sack while he took what he wanted. But one sack of registered mail was taken.
 'I was taken back with him to the en- zine and commanded to take him to point about mile from Eugene, where he jumped off and disappeared in the darkness in the direction of the river.''
 Rate Committee Meets Today.
 Chattanooga, October 2s-A meeting of