The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-14
FIERCE FIGHT
WITH TRAMPS
BLOODY BATTLE wAeEo IN
FREIGHT CAR.
ROBBERY IS The MOTIVE
Harvest Hands Beating Their Way
East Attacked by .Hoboes-One
Man Killed.

Accounts have been received here
of desperate battle that was fought
in freight car of moving train
between Glendive and Wibaux last
Wednesday, The participants were
harvest hands and tramps. One Of
the latter was killed and two of the
former badly wounded.
The harvesters numbered six and
although well supplied with money,
locked themselves in freight car
at Glendive for the purpose of beat
ing" their way east. They had been
working in the vicinity Of Glendive
and had seen many tramps there
abouts Expecting trouble with these
knights of the road, they took the
precaution of arming themselves with
supply of rocks for use in case they
we're attacked.
Tramps Attack Them.
A short distance east of Glendive
three tramps climbed on top of the
car in which the harvesters were
and demanded admittance, saying the
conductor was approaching and they
wanted to conceal themselves. The
men inside refused to open the door
and the tramps forced open an end
door. The three then entered, -four
ishing revolvers, and commanded the
harvesters to hold up their hands.
Instead of complying, the men began
to use the stones with which they had
supplied themselves and the fight was
on. Having the advantage afforded
by the revolvers, the tramps finally
not before one of their number had
been killed, his head having been
pounded into jelly with stones.
+. When their pistols had been emp
tied the tramps drew knives and con-
tinued their attack on the harvesters,
who when no longer able to defend
themselves, were robbed and then
forced to jump fro mthe train, which
was running at the rate of 20 miles
an hour.
Being unarmed, the harvesters had
no choice and one by one they jumped
from a side door, that the hoboes had
opened.
Thomas MCGOWAN, one of the har-
vesters, was shot in the right shoul-
der and back, while one of his COM
panions, William M. Mennings, was
shot in the leg and his throat cut
with knife. In spite of their pitiable
condition the two were shown no mer
cy, but forced to jump with the 9TH
ers. At last report it was believef
that on account of the wounds they
received and the shock of falling
from the rapidly moving train they
would not recover.
Tramps Escape.
1t was not until the train arrived
at Wibaux that the trainmen learned
of the fight, as the noise made by the
cars prevented them from hearing
the conflict between the desperate
men,
AS soon as the train stopped two
of the tramps rushed out and disap-
,peared. The body of the third was
found in the car, where it was allowed
to remain, the car having been cut out
and set on a sidetrack.
The injured harvesters started to
walk back to Glendive, but before
reaching there were picked up by a
passing train and taken to Glendive
for medical attention. There they
told their version of the affair and
a posse was Immediately organized
and started in pursuit of the tramps.
MCGOWAN said his home was at
Philadelphia and Meanings said he
lived at Farms, N. D.
Railroad men who arrived from
Glendive this morning said that the
two surviving hoboes who are charged
with the assault on the harvesters
had been captured and were in jail
at Glendive, pending an inquiry.
For Sale.
One of DR.. Phillips electric sweat
robes. Inquire at Gazette office.