The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-28
BLACKMAILERS
WANT 100000
Demands Made simultaneously on
Canadian Roads by Men Who
Now Wreck and Rob. .
Special to The Journal.

recklessiy daring attempt to levy
100000 by Matchmaking the Canadian
Pacific and Canadian Northern railways,
believed, is fulfilling threats to blow up
the various lines at different points in
the Canadian northwest. What is more,
the police authorities also attribute sew
eral holdups and similar outrages to-
these men,. So completely have they
hidden all trace of their identity that
The police are baffled and altho a
score. of private detectives have been
working hand in hand with the secret
service men Of the two railroads, moth.
ing has come out Of their investiga-
tions. >~>
--~- Blackmailing Attempted. H.
On Aug. 4, G.. J. Bury, general super
intendent Of the Canadian Pacific rail
way, and A. A. James, general manager
received the following letter written on
Canadian Pacific railway telegraph
blanks. The words were printed in ink,
and the. postmark was Winnipeg. It
was unsigned:
1--WE are in. need Of 100000, and
Pacific and Canadian Northern to the
tune of $4,000 each. If you decide to
treat with us you will place on your
south train white markers instead Of
green {" ~ y
This was at the time when the Do
minion exhibition was in full swing.
and it is believed that the blackmail-
ers were arrested as Migrants, but later
released. SCI" '... - ~'@~~ ..--
On receipt of the letter the executive
agents of the two railways held meet
: ing. After a short discussion it was
J II 1nl -1% t1 +o1> 20 H.
demand: However, extra precautions
were taken and special service men were
sent out with each train and vigilant
eye was kept on the tracks. Besides,
fourteen Thiel men, under Assistant SUI
perintendent F. w. Johannson of st.
days, accomplishing nothing, returned
home. -...-. -. ..- --.-..., ~
A Second and Third Demand.
On Aug. II both railway officials again
received a similar communicat ion The
words this time were:
"We have written you once before on
this matter, but it seems that you are
ignoring us. It seems that you are not
aware of the fact that YOU are dealing
with men who know their business, and
as we take you to be a businessman you
will readily, see our supremacy in this
matter, and unless you agree to ou1
terms trains will be interfered WITH
Another conference between the Of
ficials of both railways resulted and II
was again decided to ignore the men Z
requests and make an even more
searching Investigation. 1t was not fol
: a moment dreamed that the despera
, does would fulfill their threats
Again in the latter part of Angus
a third letter was received, which read
"Seeing you do not agree to ou
3 terms, this is final warning, and /
. signals are not displayed as we aske'
: to be we will then notify the public
Y and then to hi with your road.0
= Make Good Their Threats.
In compliance with their threat tn
, letter to the editor Of the Manitob
1 Free Press of this city. The letter wa
i, handed over to the railway authorities
q who requested that it be not published
:, Then, and not till then, did the OF
y fcials believe that the men were i
: dead earnest. Greater efforts than be
fore were made to run down the gans
but, altho these have been continue
J. ever since, nothing has been effected
8 ing loss of life, but others not so ser
81 very noses of the detectives.
IS The first of these took place on Sep
! l, when the train conveying Lord Mi
q to- late governor general of Canad
y and party was wrecked at Sintalut
y by running into an open switch an
= colliding with freight train that We
I. standing on the siding waiting for
= to 90 past. Five persons were kille
q outright and many others injured.
o On Sept. IL the Canadian Pacif
= transcontinental train was held up b
n two armed men at Mission junction
IS B. c., and booty to the extent of Sc,
Ie eral thousand dollars was taken. TIL
was the first train holdup in the histor
of the Canadian railroads.
Many attempts, all Of which hay
h been withheld by the railway author
8. ties, have been made to wreck differer
v trains, but the .watchout has been
il sharp that some of these have bee
D frustrated. For weeks when the di
g asters were at their highest ever
le bridge on the western lines ws
s. watched, the railway companies fea
# ing that they would be blown up.
SHARES STRUCK FROM LIST.
IF New York Nov 2S.-The Stock 3,
lie change today struck from its list the pr,
j. ferred and common shares Of the Denv