The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-25
Express and Mail Car Plundered and
All the Registered Letters
Carried Away.
BLOODH0UNDS IN PURSUIT
REWARD OF $4,000 OFFERED FOR
CAPTURE OF THE BANDIT.
Passengers and Train Hands Terror
ized-Advices Received by the
Railway Omcials.

MISSOULA, Mont, Oct 24-East-bound
passenger train No. 2 on the Northern Pa
cific was held up last night near Drum
mond, Mont, at a place forty-five miles
from this city, and Engineer Dan O'Niell
was killed. O'Niell had been in the serv-
ice of the road longer than any other en-
gineer. The train, which included mail,
baggage and express cars, with nine
coaches, arrived at Mssoula at 1920 p.
m. from Portland and coast cities and
proceeded eastward after short delay at
this station. 1t arrived after midnight
at a place two miles west of Drummond.
Here the train was signaled to stop and
the engineer accordingly slowed up. While
doing so he saw man creeping toward him
over the tender. The man, who was armed,
called to ONiell to stop the train instant
ly. The engineer took in the situation
at once and, pulling open the throttle.
tried to start the train at full speed. The
robber OWNED his purpose and fired at
him. The shot took instant effect and
the engineer fell dead at his post.
The robber then proceeded to rifle the
express and mail cars. He plundered the
regular mail and blew open the safe in the
express car, which was wrecked by the
explosion. The amount of plunder which
he secured is not known at present, but
it is supposed to be large. The excitement
on the train was intense. The sudden
stoppage of the train followed soon by the
explosion spread alarm among the train
hands and the passengers. The darkness Of
the night and the loneliness Of the place
added to the terror.
Word of the attack was sent to Drum
mond, whence it was telegraphed to Deer
Lodge, about fifty miles away. Blood
hounds were sent out at once in charge
of trusty men and steps were taken to keep
vigilant watch for the robbers. 1t is as
sumed that at least eight men were en-
gagged in the hold-up. but the latest ad-
vices are that one man alone perpetrated
the murder and robbery. Sheriff Pres
colt, with a strong force of men, started
at once for the scene of the robbery on
a special train. The coroner went with
him.
Dan ONeill, the murdered engineer lived
in this city and had wife and five chill
dren. The robber boasted that he took
part in the hold-up of the Southern Pa
ciic train near Portland. Ore. about a
year ago. He made this boast to the
train hands to terrorize them while he
employed them to run the train for four
miles. that is, to a point two miles east of
Drummond. He declared that he would be
hard to catch. as he had a horse in the
timber. Warden Conley, of the Deer Lodge
penitentiary. is engaged in the pursuit
with blodhounds.
The Northern Pacific has offered a re-
ward of 5000 for delivery, dead or alive,
of the train robber who murdered O'Neill
and blew up the baggage and express car.
The mask worn by the bandit was found
on a mountain trail two miles from the
scene of the hold-up and that, after CIV
ing the hounds the scent of the mask, the
animals Immediately took up the trail.
which was then about eight hours old.