The San Francisco call., 1904-06-18
ROBBERS BOARD
TRAIN At TANK
Bandits Effect HOld-Up at
Spot Where Two Years Ago
Engineer O'Neill Lost Life
THIEVES STILL ATLARGE
Posses, With BIOOdhOundS,
Start From Scene of Crime
in Quest of the FugitiyeS

BEAR MOUTH, Mont. June 1.-THE
hold-uD Of the North Coast limited
Northern Pacific passenger train last
night vas similar TO the one which oc-
CURED two years ago in nearly the
same spot and in which Engineer
O'Nein lost his life. The hold-ups
boarded the tender Of the engine at
the water tank at Bear Mouth, and.
after having remained quiet until the
train had gone a mile and a half. they
crawled up over the coal and covered
Engineer Wade and Fireman Reed
with their guns and told them to throw
Up their hands. Engineer Wade was
then commanded TO bring his train TO
standstill. and he complied. The en-
Cine r and fireman were ordered from
their engine, and. with the hOld-ups,
went back TO the express car The eN-
press messenger was commanded 10
open the door, but refused. The en-
gineer was next commanded 10 light
a stick Of dynamite Of which explosive
rhey had z large quantity, and place
the lighted stick against The door. The
force Of the explosion completely
wrecked The door. The engineer and
fireman were compelled TO precede the
hold-ups into the car
TWO CHARGES USED.
once admission was gained. the hold
ups directed their attention TO the
strong box. Five sticks OF dynamite
Nere placed on top OF the safe and ig
nited. The charge was insufficient. and
another and larger cap was used. The
second charge exploded with terrific
force. blowing out the side of the car
and throwing the safe a distance Of
forty feet After rifiing the safe Of
its contents the robbers commanded
the train crew 10 remain quiet and no
harm would be done them. While
giving this command one of the
robbers accidentally struck the en-
gineer with his revolver, and in apollo
gizing for it called him by name. in
dicating a possibility that he may Be
a railroad man.
The rear brakeman, the moment
that he realized what had happened.
slipped of the rear Of the train and ran
back 20 Bear Mouth. where communi-
cation was had with the sUperintend-
ent's and Sherin-s offices in MissOula-
A posse was Immediately summoned,
and At 1890 o'clock an engine. a car Of
horses and superintendent Palmers 5
private car we're on the way To the
scene. arriving at > O'Clock. The posse
consisted Of Sheriff Thompson, Under
Sheriff Sterling. George Saunders. Ed
Larson. Chick White. James McCaffer-
". James Tabor. William Carter ard
others Bloodhounds at Deer Lodg=
prison were wired for and were sent
10 the scene. II is believed there are
four u the hold-uDs all told. -Four
men have been in Bear Mouth for the
past two OF three days. and. it is sale.
have been laying in a large supply OF
groceries. especially canned. The the
ory is that they have a rendezvous not
far from the scene Of the hold-up.
OFFICERS IN PURSUIT.
Deputies Watson and Murray are
on their way from Missoula. up the
Hell Gate Csn-0n. 10 head of escape
in that direction, while two other Of
fce-s. Tabor and Saunders, were let
on the train at McCarthy's bridge to
head Of escape there. II is learned
that the road people We're expecting
the hold-up for the past two days, but
looked for il on the Phillipsburg
branch. From the description had OF
these men Il IS believed they are or
the same crowd who did last nights
hoid-up.
When The special train from Deer
Lodge. with Sheriff Barnde's posses
,1- 10
scene Of the hold-up. the dogs imme-
diately took the scent and followed il
silree miles west Of Bear Mouth, max
iug a wide detour in passing Bear
Mouth. AT this point footprints OF
two horses were found which lead
southerly into the Rock Creek coUn-
Try. The dogs we're sent back and the
officers in various communities which
flank the distance We're notified. These
officers Immediately organized addi-
tional posses and IL is believed that
six or eight different bodies OF men
are closing In from various directions.
From the descriptions gained the Of
ncers believe they recognize the ban
dts.
The railway company has offered
reward Of $1,000 dead or alive for each
OF the robbers and the State has added
$500 10 this.
one hundred and eighty sticks Of
dynamite, tied in bundles OF ten to
bunch and an fused, were found at
the scene Of the hoid-up. The sDokes-
man Of the hold-ups answers closely
the description Of the hold-uD two
years ago and his methods used were
identically The same.
CONFEDERATES IN WOODS.