Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-16
A RUNNING FIGHT
Between Bank Burglars and
Officers Near HouIton.
Men Now Surrounded in Woods ard
Escape Is Doubtful.
Armed With Rifles and Repeatedly
Fired at Pursuers.

Houlton. Me. Sept. 15.-Surrounded
py Tour officers and a bank cashier
two professional bank robbers with be-
tween $1,000 and $4,000 secured in A haul
III the florenceville, y. r., bank. early
sunday morning, will have much diff
Guilty in escaping from the woods in
which they have been hiding since
early this morning
The officers have the benefit of the
moonlight and the only way the rob
oers can get away is to use their rifles
as they Gid when first seen when a
running fire was kept up until 20 or
more shots had been exchanged.
Shortly after midnight this morning.
Sheriff Foster OF Carleton county. New
brunswick, the bank chashier and
Deputy Sheriff Barnett Of Bridgewater.
Me-. who had been close on the trail
of the men, came up with them on the
Bangor * Aroostook tracks about eight
miles from Houlton. The pursuers
We're quickly seen, so the cashier
shouted for the men TO stop. The re
Spcnse was serenade of rifle shots
from the two. This was an unexpected
difficulty, for the officers had no idea
that the men We're armed except with
! revolvers and think that they must
have had the rifles secreted along the
line.
AS the moon was full and the Off
Gals mad only revolvers they retreated
from the track after exchanging shots.
but not SO far that they could not see
thpip Tho Ia ho
woods instead of proceeding toward
| HcIlton ana have not since been seen.
The officers We're joined by two local
officers and the five men have partially
surrounded the woods keeping a sharp
watch. AS the thermometer is low it
is cold watching all night.
Four officers from Woodstock. n. r.,
arrived here shortly after o'clock in
a carriage and started for Smyrna, 16
miles west of here. where they Will
search the freight train passing
through there at ) O'Clock. The same
train will be-watched by local officers.
1t is believed the men will make an at
| tempt to board this train.
The Florenceville bank was burglar
! lied about 1890 O'Clock Sunday morn
ing and between $4,000 and $4,000 in
| Canadian currency taken. In addition
| TO this loss a large number of Valu-
| able popers were rendered worthless
by the explosion which wrecked the en-
! tire office The bank is located in a
| two and half story building in that
| small town and is 60 feet from any
! other building. The safe. not large
affair. was carefully covered before the
| EXPLOSION The robbers secured the
money and escaped before the citizens
| guessed the cause of the unusual noise
/ Tho cashier heard the explosion and
| Guessing the cause hastily secured
Deputy Sheriff Foster and started at
| ter the men. They were traced all Jay
sunday and up till midnight over the
"a miles of road to Bridgewater. where
| tho Bangor & Aroostook tracks We're
taken and where the pursuers were re-
incorced by Deputy Sheriff Barnett
| ana tbe remainder of the Is miles was
| covered TO where the men are now sur
rounded
The men. of whom there are three, are
nrofeseicnals beyond doubt. They are
about a. wears old and it is believed
thev have committed many OF inc
bu-elaries in this vicinity.
81 .Iohn. n T.. Sept. 15.-W. r. StaVer'
manager Of the Eank Of New Brunswick
returned to the city last night from
t,,e+ FlorenceviIe. \. b.. where theli
branch hank was broken into. SATURDAY
pisbt He sail the robbers had peen
.rocod tn a swamp and Il posse was ai'el
tbem Int when ne left for st. John thef'
wore not sufficient men to surround th'
lhuroI.rs and the pursuers were not con-
Gdnnt of capturing them. He said IN
| .,,rad from. the bank was about