The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-10-28


Y Northern Pacific train No. @, which
figured in the hold-up at Bearmouth
tank, near Drummond, Mont, Thurs
day night, arrived in Billings at 5:15
yesterday afternoon, a little more
than five hours late.
Quite a number of through pas
sengers were on the. train and all OF
them were awakened by the shots that
were fired by the robber.
Mrs. Cooley of Miles City was one
of the passengers, and was returning
to her home after attending the l. 0.
O. F. meetings at Missoula. She stat
ed that there was no attempt what
ever to rob the passengers and from
all reports she was confident that the
job was done by n man.
Charles M. Way, a business man of
Minneapolis, was a passenger also,
and he was able to give an excellent
account of the affair. The train was
stopped in the usual way by the rob-
Der coming down over the coal in the
tank with two big guns trained on the
engineer and the latter stopped the
train without further parley.
"O'Neal, the engineer, was a broad
s~houldered, plucky Irishman,' said
Mr.. Way, land when the rober en-
deavored to march him back to un-
couple the express and mail cars, the
intention being, as expressed by the
robber, to run them several miles
ahead and rob them, O'Neal thought
he saw a chance and grappled with
the man. There was a life and death
struggle which ended in the robber
putting a bullet through the engineers
body just above the heart. O'Neal
was carried back to a car and lived
about two hours after the shooting.
He was conscious to the last and talk
ed freely and clearly. He said he was
quite sure he shot the robber with
one Of his own pistols during the
struggle, but was not absolutely GER
tain.
""The robber had more conversa-
ton with the electrician and mail
clerk than anyone else.
after shooting the engineer he
turned toward the engine Intending
to have the fireman cut the train
in two, but the fireman had jumped
out CT the cab window and hid behind
a pile of stones. Then the robbe1
went after the electrician, who rides
in the baggage car, and ordered him
to uncouple the cars and run the en-.
CINE ahead, but the electrician told
him he knew no more about running
an engine than a child. He then tried
to blow open the express car where it
stood and succeeded in getting into
the car. in fact he blew it all TIC
pieces, but could not blow open the
safe.
Next he turned his attention to the
mail car and took all the registered
packages that appeared valuable
Among these were a number OF
watches, which he said he would give
to the girls All the time he was
working the mail car he kept up a
running talk with the mail clerk ano
express messenger. He said he was
sorry he had to kill the engineer, but
it was his, the engineers, own fault
hurt if he obeyed directions and didn't
resist. He also said hat he held W
and robbed, single handed, a train or
the Southern Pacific a year ago.
'The bravest act was performed by
the brakeman" said Mr.. Way, "whc
got off and ran alongside the trair
as soon as it stopped, during the tim
a regular fusilade of shots was going
on between the robber and conductor
and went back to flag"
Conductor Quinn, who had charge
of the train was at the Grand in this
city last night. He stated that he die
not have a close look at the robber
He stepped off the train as soon as
it stopped, several cars back from
the engine, and the robber at once
opened fire on him, firing four shots
some of which whistled around Mr.
Quinn's. head pretty close. He stood
his ground, however, and emptied his
revolver at the bandit, but owing te
the distance and darkness was unable
to hit him.
The robbery that the bandit claimed
to have performed single handed or
the Southern Pacific occurred. just
veal prior to Thursday nights on the
| Northern Pacific, to a day. All the