The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-09
ROBBED r. G. ERwN,s CAR.
Negro Desperate Shot Porter, At
tempted TO XIII Two Conductors
and Then Jumped from Moving
Train.

A desperate negro tramp. Jim Smith
entered and robbed the private car OF
President r. G. Erwin. Of the Atlantic
o Line at daylight yesterday morn
Ing. shot Watkins billiard. a porter o.
the Central OF Georgia Railway. and
tried to Kill two conductors. who at
empted to arrest him. He youndeS
nlmseif n jumped from the train and
MADE his escape. Later b. was r;n
Gown by ~bloodhounds and captured.
PRESIDENT Erw1n's car was a part OF
the central train from Atlanta. for Sa-
vannah In il were Mr.. Erwin. his
secretary. Mr.. w. r. Sullivan, Mr.. w.
u. Elliott. president of the Atlantic
Coast Line Company. and his secre-
tary, Mr.. r. D. Cronly. and the color
ed porter, Ben Moore. The tramp must
have boarded the train some where be-
tween Millen and Oliver, but his pres
ence Was o detected until the train
was near Egypt.
The tramp after entering the car took
the coat. ~rousers and overcoat of Mr..
sullivan. and the white vest of the por-
Ter. carried them to the dressing room.
There he discarded his own clothes and
donned those he had taken. He was
On MS way to the door OF the car, prob
ably with a view OF leaving the train.
when he was seen by Moore, who was
preparing to get breakfast.
PORTER GAVE THE ALARM
Moore demanded to know what the
negro was doing on the car, and was
tod, with d string of oaths. to shut
up and mind his business or he would
be shot,. the visitor at the same time
displaying Moore'S own pistol. which
he had taken when he secured the
vest. Moore dived out Of sight and at
the same time let out a yell that
walked Messrs. Sullivan and Cronly,
and brought to the scene Conductor
j. s. Peterson, who was "d~eadheading"
to Savannah, and Conductor G.. B.
Wheeler, who vas in charge of the
train. as we'll as billiard.
The tramp had made his way to the
platform OF the car. He was there
when Mr.. Peterson reached it and
as soon as he opened the door fired at
him.. The conductor grabbed the negro
with n arm n with the other caugh
the hand holding the pistol and kept
the muzzle turned away from himself
and the other two men, who had follow
ed him on the platform. Because of
the amount Of wood, boxes and other
were unable to get to the struggling
men. and didn't dare shoot for fear of
Peterson.
JUMPED FROM THE TRAIN
The negro was trying to throw Pet
erson off the car, at the same time 90
turn the pistol on the other two
men. Peterson asked his friends If
couldn't shoot the negro to cut
his throat. In a few moments, how
ever, the struggling prisoner had
managed to get in a shot that struck
from Peterson's grasp and jumped from
h e train not. however, before Con- /
luctOr Wheeler had got ore shot at
him, and a shot that told. for Blood was |
sound on the platform later.
The train was close to Egypt, when |
negro left it and was running be- |
ween forty five n fifty railes IN |
No effort was made to stop |
go back, but the matter was re- /
ported at the first stop, and again to |
he proper officers as soon as Savannah |
vas reached. Immediate steps were !
to capture the man. |
TRACKED EIGHTEEN MIKES.
Sergent John M. C%onnally Of the Cen
raj Railway po1ice force left for the |
Gene of the trouble as soon as news
f the robbery reached Savannah He i
where smith had jumped from
he train and tracked him for ten
niles on foot unassisted. He wir-
d to Egypt to have bloodhounds sent |
i'm. and when the dogs arrived the
Rail was again taken up. 1t was fol
swed another eight miles. when the
was found and captured.
It was about 5'o'ciock before he was
aught. Though wounded in the hand, l
from loss of blood and posi-
lY also from thea shock he must have
ustained when he jumped from tine
rain the negro had managed to cover
he entire distance on foot, and had
lmost reache>. StateSboro when taken. 1
Tho Dnrtnr on Mr. ENrrtyin'u oar man, Il
ged to prepare breakfast, out he WAS
ably ratified. In serving breakfast, /
he had occasion to pass a cup Of
Office to Mr.. Elliott. he asked that gen
leman to tick um quick, Mr.. EllioN, /
my han shake so l spill um."-
,avannah News.