Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-08-03
B. { 0. TRAIN HELD UP
Attempted Robbery Thirty Miles
East Of Chicago.
DyNAMITED THE WRONG CAR
Masked Robbers Blew in the Doors Of the Mail
Car on No. I Before Discovering Their
Mistake-Th Express Car Con-
tanning $4,000 Was un-
touched by the Thieves.

Baltimore and Ohio passenger train
Not which left here at lo:lo Tues
day night, was held up by five masked
men at So'clock Wednesday between
Edgemore and Grand Calumef
Heights. Ind, thirty -one miles from
Chicago. The train was due to ar
! rive int hicago at 9 o'clock. The fol-
Moving dispatch from Chicago de-
Sscribes the daring hold-up:
One of the mail cars which con-
fained no money was dynamited and
wrecked. The attempt at robbery was
made after two mail cars had been de-
tached from the train and run quar-
ter of mile ahead.
The failure of the robbers to make
a rich haul was due to the fact that
the express car, was in an unusual
| place. 1t was the fourth car III the
gftrain.
After wrecking the mail car and OBJ
tanning no booty, the robbers dlsap-
! peared in the darkness without at
| tempting to rectify their mistake
kyrhe only loot that they carried away
with them as result of their adven-
ture was the gold watch OF the engi-
neer.
The train was the New York and
Washington vestibule limited. Most
Of the tralnmen were shot at and had
narrow escapes from the bullets. No
person was injured either by the dy-
Anamite or firearms.
The place where the robbery oc-
Cured is lonely district in which
few people live, and houses are far be-
tween. No better place for n train
robbery could be desired by the rob-
bers.
BUILT FIRE ON THE TRACK.
The train was running at high
rate of speed as it passed Calumet
Heights, and Immediately after pass
hng out of sight of the station En-
gineer j. w. Collins saw directly IN
ly|front of his engine a large fire on
which some rails has been placed. he
Slowed down, and as he did so, three
nen, wearing masks over their fares'
bumped into the cab, and covered Col
Inns and his fireman. James Whipped.
with revolvers.
) Just before climbing into the cab
she three men commenced to fire with
their reyolvers in order to brighten
laway all assistance. The shots pro-
luced the liveliest kind OF panic in
The sleeping cars, where the passen-
gers made every effort to hide their
Asoney and valuables before the rob-
bars could get at them. No attempt
Was made, however to rob any OF the
paissengers. The fusilade had the
infect of making them keep inside
he cars.
After mounting into the cab OF the
|engine the robbers, covering the en-
gineer and fireman with heir revolt
yers, made them step down and go
back the length of two cars. They
Xorderd the men to uncouple the first
kwo cars, which was done. They then
usted the two trainmen back into
he cab and still keeping the engineer
oyered with revolvers directed him
B pull up some distance from the
list of the train.
Collins ran up 200 feet and was
len directed to stop. He did so, and
hile one of the men, remained t.
hard him the others Jumped of, and
hrling dynamite at the door OF the
If which they judged to be the ex'
ess car burst open the door. Has
Nv climbing in TO get at the safe,
ey were astonlshed to find that they
d broken into rail car. They
reatened the engineer with death
Il not telling them that the cars
|hich he had uncoupitd were not ex'
G9ss ears and orderes aim to return
once and uncoupl, the next car be.
nd the baggage car
THE BLUNDER REPEATED
Clmbirg once more into his cab,
bllins backed his engine down coup
il on to the third car, which the
eman was made to uncouple at the
AR end, and SIT with the muzzel OF
revolver at his head, Collins was
Tered to run down the track as be
4. He drew away from the rest Of
train alb out the same distance al
/ 1.-The first occasion, and the robbers
leaving him under the charge o.