The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-24

mediately secured his rife and opened
fire.
The bullet pierced the heart of one OF
the robbers, and went through his pooy,
entering the left breast OF Engineer
Barrett. who was just behind him. Bar
retts wound is above the heart ana not
necessarily fatal
After the shooting the other robbers
fled without securing any booty. ana IL Is
supposed they took boat which they
had moored at the bank of the river. the
point where the hold-up occurred Is on
the bank OF the Columbia river ana Pre-
cipitious mountain Is on the other SIDE
of the track. The easiest route OF es-
cape is by the river.
The robber ordered Engineer Barrett 10
walk In front of him while approaching
the baggage car. but he jumped behind
Just before the shot from the express
mans rifle was fired. The body OF the
dead robber was left behind on the track
and the wounded engineer was brought
to this city.
Sheriff Storey and four sheriffs left on
a special for the scene of the robbery
shortly after midnight When they ar
rived there one of the outlaws was found
badly wounded from a charge or buck
shot which he had received In the head.
He was placed on board the sheriff
train which was then turned around and
headed for Portland. The bandit said his
name was James Connors, OF Portland,
, but refused to make known the names
OF any OF the other bandits or the direc-
| ton I'm which they went Ollie T. Bar
rett, the wounded engineer, who Is now
in a hospital here. tells the following
story OF the hold-up.
| About a mile beyond Troutdale. tive
masked men climbed In on the blind bag
gage. over the tender and through the
| gangway into the engine, covering botf
| fireman and myself with revolvers.
| 'sThey ordered me to run tho train Il
mile post No. 21 and stop al light which
would be found there.
"At mile post No. 21, two other masked
men came out OF the bushes and Joined III
as the train stopped. The new corners or
dered us OF the engine. The bandits who
had been In the brush carried two Ions
willow poles on the end OF which wer,
sticks OF dynamite. These were placed IL
our hands and the fireman and were or
dered to go back to the express car and
order the messenger to open IT, IL he dio
not we were TO use the dynamite and
blow Il open.
''The bandits kept up a fuslade OF
shots TO warn the passengers 10 keep
their heads inside the windows. We were
compelled 10 proceed TO the baggage car,
where called out to the messenger 1T Is
Barrett, open the door. don't shoot
'InlS doulan0 ndd no thtct anu Ahc
bandits took the poles from our hands and
placed them against the door OF the car
after lighting long fuses. We were then
ordered back TO the engine and stayed
there with the bandits until the dynamite
blew the door open.
"As soon as the sound OF the explosion
had died away I was ordered 10 go ahead
OF the party toward the car. Instead OF
obeying orders 7 stepped behind one OF
the bandits and the fireman followed me.
When we were 20 feet from the express
car the messenger fired and killed the
robber In front OF me. The bullet we af-
terwards found went through his heart
and then struck maLp the left shoulder.
"All felt the bullet strike mo called
10 the taller man that I was shot and
that my left arm had gone The man told
me that II waS all right: that might &c
back 10 the engine with the fireman We
examined the small man nrst. however
and found that he was killed"
The oregon Railroad a. Navigation
company offers reward OF 1900 for tn.
arrest OF the highwaymen.
Barrett r. one OF the oldest men on IN.
road. having been In the employ OF IN.
oregon Railroad q Navigation comma n,
for Is years. Express Messenger FIRE.
Kerner is known as one OF the most de
termined men in the employ OF the Pacl
&C Express co.