The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-18
BOLD SAFE BURGLARY.
STR EET-CAR OFFICE ROBBED AT
 NORTHAMPTON, MASS.

A WatchmRn Bound and Gagged, and Mnchinist overpowercd-F Former Witness of the Blowing Open ofTyvo | safes Escape of tho Robbers. 1 Northampton, Mass, Feb. 17.-Five
 men blew open two of three safes in the
 office of the street railway company
 here early to-day after having over-
 powered the watchman, whom they
 bound and gagged. They secured $750
 in cash and d check for $500 from the
 two safes. The third safe, which was not broken into, contained about $500 in money.
 An employe of the railway company who heard the sounds of the explosion and approached the office was driven
 back with revolvers by the robbers
 The men escaped in wagon drawn by
 a team of horses, and when the alarm
 finally was given trace of them had
 been lost Later in the day, however
 they were heard of driving toward the
 west. and as the police of all the sur
 rounding country were notified early in
 the day hopes were entertained that the
 robbers would be captured.
 The office of the street railway com-
 pany which was robbed was in the car
 barns, which are located about mile and quarter out of the city. Three men usually are on duty there at night, an engineer, a mechanic and watch
 man. At about 2:30 o'clock this morn ing the watchman, Edward Vim, was making his rounds and was approach ing the office, when he was seized around the neck from behind by man. While he was firmly held in this posi- tion another man pinioned his arms. brought them down behind him and tied them. Then a gag was forced into his mouth an outcry having been pre- vented by the pressure upon the throat. The other two men employed by the company, being in different parts of the establishment, knew nothing of what was going on,
 Vim, threatened with death at the muzzle of the revolver, was forced into the office, where he found himself in |, the presence of five men. One was left | to guard him. The others began to ! work on the safe. After boring a hole | in the door they inserted an explosive. | When all was ready the watchman was | pushed out of the room and a moment | later the charge in the safe door was ! exploded Then the men went back < into the office, taking the watchman i with them.
 Immediately they began work on the ' second safe, and in a short time that was ready. Again the watchman was pulled out of the office and the dis charge took place. Then. from without the door, the watchman heard the rat tie of silver coins. A few moments lat CT the men were ready to leave, and, one of the number to bring up the team, '" the others paused by the captive watchman Just then the ma who had heard the sound of the explosion, came running up, but his ad vance was checked by the sight of lev elled revolvers and the command, Now. go back and don't be foolish" Then the sound of wheels was heard and the robbers hurried out and drove rapidly away.
 Immediately Watchman Vim began a violent struggle to free himself, and he succeeded just as the machinist. who had been driven back by the robbers, reappeared While one man summoned the police the other sounded an alarm on the whistle of the railway company which called together a gang of em- ploYes. Search for the robbers was be- gun both by railroad men and the po- lice, but up to noon they had not been tracked.
 Word was received this afternoon 
 robbers was heard early to-day passing through Florence, a small hamlet west of here, going towards Williamsburg.