The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-09-30
pYNAMITER's PLOT.
Threaten the Destruction OF the
Northern Pacific In Montana.

Northern Pacific In Montana.
Helena, Mont, Sept. 20. - Men are
being hired in large numbers by the
Northern Pacific Railway company to
search the mountains iI this vicinity
Tor gang of dynamiters who threaten
to destroy the property Of the COM
pany in this state unless $4,000 is
forthcoming.
About two weeks ago 2,135 pounds
Of dynamite was stolen from ware
house in this city, and this is believed
to be hidden near here. The officials
think that this dynamite is being used
in carrying out the threats TO destroy
the company's property. as. no less
than four dynamite explosions have oc-
Cured within the last two weeks, re-
sulting in three freight trains and
one passenger train being temporarily
disabled.
A fortnight ago General Manager
Hannaford of the Northern Pacific was
notified that unless $25, 900 was given
to the engineer of light engine and
sent west from Garrison the property
Of the company would be dynamited
from hell to Butte" The next day
the amount
Was Raised to $4,000.
Instead of complying with the re-
quest the railroad officials made an
officials made an effort to capture the
bandits, but to no avail. Within few
days, however, the company was noti-
fed that owing to the manner in which
their ultimatum was treated the rob-
bers would have their revenge, and
since that time the track has been
dynamited four times, once within the
city limits of Helena, where an at
tempt was made to blow up the North
Coast limited connecting stub train.
The latest attempt was at Sampson
Siding, twenty-five miles west of here,
Friday night.
Jail Is Threatened.
There were startling new develop
ments in the plot yesterday, in that II
became known that Thomas Travis,
chief of police of this city, has re-
ceived an ultimatum from the con-
spjrators ordering the immediate re-
lease of two men who are confined in
the city Jail on the charge of having
attempted to dynamite the Northern
Pacific bridge at Livingston a few
days after the first $4,000 ultimatum
was delivered to the railroad company.
The officials have a strong case con-
Meeting these men
With the Crime,
although the evidence is principally
circumstantial. The notice received
by the Helena police is that if the men
are not released by noon to-day the
Jail will be blown up with dynamite
This letter is believed to have the
same origin as those sent to the
Northern Pacific demanding $4,000 or
otherwise it would be put out of bust
ness in Montana.
Given Time.
1t was learned yesterday that the
Northern Pacific was given until Oct
next to comply with the demands of
the cospirators. 1t is also learned
that as a means of knowing that their
terms had been accepted, the railroad
was to place white flags on all trains
for at least twenty-four hours prior to
the delivery of the money at a point
west of Garrison.
Instead of putting the flags on west
bound trains as directed and then
sending out an armed posse on anoth-
er engine closely pursuing it, the con
spirators were given tip that proved
all potent in preventing their capture,
as not seeing the white flags they did
not hail the first light engine.