Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-24
H|GHWAYOED AT WORK
Bold Robbers Hold Up At
lantic Expfessin Oregon.
MESSENGER KILLS ONE
ENGINEER BEHIND MAN WAS
SHOT IN THE BREAST.
Wild Country Near Portland Scene Of
Attempt and Failure-Railway Com
pany Offers $1,000 Reward.

PORTLAND. Ore, September 24.!The
Atlantic express on the Oregon Railroad
and Navigation Line, which left here at
SIS o'clock last night, was held up by four
masked men an hour later near Corbett
station, twenty-one miles east of this city.
One Of the robbers was shot and killed by
Express Messenger Fred Korner and En-
gineer Ollie Barrett was seriously wounded
by the same bullet. After the shooting the
robbers fed without securing any booty.
Two of the highwaymen boarded the train
at Troutdale a station eighteen miles east
of here and after the train had got under
way they crawled over the tender and COW
ering the engineer and fireman with re-
volvers told them to stop at mile post u,
which is near Corbett station. When the
train slowed down two more men appeared
Covered the Engineer.
Two of the robbers compelled the en-
gneer to get out of the cab and accompany
them to the express car. while the others
watched the fireman. The men carried
several sticks of dynamite, and when they
came to the baggage car, thinking it was
the express car threw stick at the door.
Express Messenger korner heard the eX-
ploson and Immediately secured his rife
and opened fire. The bullet pierced the
heart of one Of the robbers and went
through his body, entering the left breast
of Engineer Barrett, who was just behind
him. Barrett's wound is above the heart
and is not necessarily fatal.
Robbers Driven Away.
After the shooting the other three robbers
fled without securing any booty, and it is
supposed they took to boat which they
had moored at the bank of the river. The
point where the holdup occurred is on the
bank of the Columbia river. and a precipi-
tous mountain is on the other side of the
bank. The easiest route of escape is by
the river and the officers believe the rob-
bers will either cross to the Washington
shore or come down the river to this city.
The robber ordered Engineer Barrett to
walk In front of him while approaching the
baggage car, but he jumped behind just
before the shot from the express messen-
gers rifle was fired. The body of the dead
robber left beside the track and the
wounded engineer was brought to this city.
Sheriffs on the Trail.
Sheriff Story and four deputy sheriffs left
a special train for the scene of the rob-
berry at 12:45 but they have small hope of
capturing the robbers, as the country on
both sides of the river is rough and heavily
timbered.
The Oregon Railroad and Navigation
Company offered a reward of 81 600 for the
arrest of the highwaymen.
1t is believed that the robbers are ANA
teurs from the fact that they mistook the
baggage car for the express car. The door
of the car was badly shattered, but the
trucks were not detached from the train.
Barrett is one of the Oldest men on the
road having been in the employ of the
Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company
for twenty five years. Express Messenger
Fred Korner is known as one of the most
determined men in the employ of the Pacific
Express Company.