The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-09-24
Ball FromM Messense.'s Rifle Pierces
Ills Heart and Wounds
Engineer.
HIGHwAYMEN GOT NO BOOTY
Dynamitcd Baggage Car Instead
Express Car Three Suryiy-
ors Escape, but Posse
Is In Pursuit.

Portland. Oregon, 4 .pt. "a. --(special)
The Atlantic express on the oregon
Railroad and Navigation line, which
left here al si5 .. M. was held UP by
four masked men at $3.50 last night near
corbeit station. 81 miles east OF this
city, one Of the robbers was shot and
killed by Express Messenger Fred Kor-
ner. and Engineer ollie Barrett was
seriously wounded By the same bullet.
After the shooting the robbers fled
without securing any booty.
Two of the highwaymen boarded the
train az Trou,dale, station Is miles
east OF here, and, after the train had
got under way. they crawied over the
tender and, covering the engineer and
fireman with revolvers. told them TO
stop at mile post n, which is near Cor
bett station. When the train slowed
down two more men appeared. Two OF
the robbers compelled the engineer 10
get out of the cab and accompany them
10 the express car. While the 9th rs
watched the fireman. The men carr d
TthNAnA m Va WI ~
they came TO the baggage car, thinging
II was the express car, they threw a
stick at the car door.
Express Messenger Korner heard the
explosion. and lmmedittely secured his
rifle and opened fire. The bullet pierre
ed 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
IL above the heart and IL not necessar-
ily fatal.
After the shooting the other three
robbers fed without securing any
booty, aud 1t is supposed they took a
boat which they had moored at TIE
bank OF the river. The point where the
holdup occurred is on the bank of TIE
Columbia river, n precipitous noun
tain ON the other side OF the track. The
easiest route 70 scape Is by the riv 9,
and the officers believe that the robbf =
VIII either cross 10 the Washingt i
shore or come down the river to this
city.
The robber ordered Engineer Bar
rett to walk In front Of him while APP
preaching the baggage car, but he
jumped behind just before the shot
from the express messengers rifle was
fired.
The body Of the dead robber was left
beside the track and hat OF the wound
cd engineer placed on the train, which
was run to Bridal Veil, distance of
six miles, by the fireman. An engine
and caboose from The Dalles brought
the engineer to this city, arriving at
1880, a. M, ana he was taken TO st.
vincent's hospital, Sheriff storey and
four deputy sheriffs left on special
train for the scene Of the robbery at
l2;45, but they have small hopes OF
capturing the robbers, as the country
on both sides OF the river is rough and
heavily timbered.
The Oregon Railroad and Navigation
Company late last night offered a re-
ward OF $1,000 for the arrest OF the high
waymen,
II is believed that the robbers are am
ateurs from the fact that they mistook
the baggage car for the express car.
The door OF the car was badly shatter-
ed, but the trucks were not injured,
and 1t was not detached from the train
Engineer Barrett is one OF the oldest
men on the road, having been employed
by the o. n. & N, for 20 years.