Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-10-26
imprisoned in Express Car He
Held Band at Bay.
DEFIED THEM WITH SHOT GUN
Charges Of Dynamite Flew All About Him,
But the Robbers We're Compelled
10 Submit to Defeat They
Secured Bul Little


Secured But Little
Booty.
Eugene, Ore, Oct 24.---The South.
ern Pacific railroad express was held
up by robbers near Walkers Station,
Is miles from here. yesterday. and
only the bravery OF the express mes.
senger prevented the thieves from
footing the train AS 1t was, the rob
bers secured but little booty. The ex.
press car however, was badly dam
aged by dynamite.
Two men boarded the train at Cot
tage Grove as the train pulled out
After passing Walkers. which is four
miles from Cottage Grove. they climb
ed over the tender and covered En-
gineer Jack Nichols and the fireman
and his helper with revolvers.
The robbers ordered the train to
be stopped, after which the fireman
and helper were compelled to un-
couple the train between the express
,, car and the first coach. Engineer
Nichols was then ordered to pull
ahead, the fireman and helper being
left behind. After going short dis
lance the train was stopped. and the
robbers proceeded to the express car.
taking with them the engineer.
The express car was blown open
with dynamite, and Express Messen-
ger C. Charles was ordered out. but
he refused TO go. and, with his shot
gun, commanded 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" fusillade of bullets fol-
lower, Kidding the car, but the mes
senger, who was uninjured, kept up
continuous firing inside, which held
the robbers at bay. A charge of dyna-
mite was then thrown into the car,
with burning fuse. but Charles seized
it and threw 1t outside, whore 1t ex-
ploded.
THE first intimation | had OF any.
thing wrong" said G. r. Charles, the
express messenger. was when the
train began to slow up near Walkers
Station II was 245 o'clock, as near
as ! can remember Shortly after that
the train came to standstill. and
was ordered to open the door. | re-
fused to move. Open this car or
we will blow you to hell' commanded
one OF the robbers. | made no re-
Spouse 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 some
what. but otherwise | was unhurt.
Further commands 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 to put me
out OF the way, either by dynamite
or with bullets. | changed my sta.
ton to the other end Of the car
second shot blew open the door at
the other end Of the car.
"The third shot failed to 90 off, as
| had removed my shoes and quietly
walked over to the dynamite and de.
tached the fuse Two more shots ex-
ploded, each of them blowing a hole
in the floor of the car. All told, four
shots went off In the car, two failed
to explode, and one | prevented from
exploding by removing the fuse. All
efforts to compel ne 10 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
my shot gun. The entire ceremony
lasted about 40 minutes. The engi-
neer retired after fired the shot and
ordered him to leave, and | was not
molested further
The robbers then gave up their ef-
forts to secure the express treasure
and went for the mail. They secured
the registered mail, then cut the en-
CINE from the rest Of the train and
ordered Engineer Nichols to pull
ahead. They ran to Judkin's Point, in
the outskirts of Eugene, where they
disembarked and ordered the engineer
to return and get his train.
The news was wired from Saginaw
and officers went out in search of the
robbers, but as yet have secured no
trace OF them. They were handicapped
by having no description OF the men.
Posses from both Lave and Douglas
counties are searchin- for the bandits.