Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-17
n, P, TRAIN HELD UP
Masked Men Stop the North
Coast Limited.
BOARDED THE ENGINE
DYNAMITED THE EXPRESS CAR
AND BLEW OPEN THE SAFE.
Amount Of Booty Secured Unknown
Authorities Alarmed by Brake
man-Posse on the Track.
BOARDED THE ENGINE


masked men have held up the North Coast
Limited Northern Pacific passenger train.
east bound, at about mile and a half east
of this station. After bringing the train to
a stop they dynamited the express car,
blew open the safe and secured its con-
tents. The amount secured is not known,
but 1t is believed to be large. After blow
ing out the rear lights of the train the two
men disappeared.
The hold-up was similar to the one which
occurred two years ago at nearly the same
spot, and in which Engineer Oneal 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 Engi-
neer 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 immedi-
ately complied The engineer and fireman
were ordered from their engine, and. with
the hold-ups, went back to the express car.
Before making an effort to gain an en-
trance they forced the engineer to light a
cigar.
The express messenger was commanded
to open the door but refused. The engi-
neer was next commanded to light stick
of dynamite. of which explosive the rob-
bers had large quantity, and he placed
the lighted stick against the car door. The
force of the explosion completely wrecked
the door, and the engineer ana nreman
were compelled to precede the hold-ups into
the car.
Dynamited the Strong Box.
When admission was gained the hold-ups
at once directed their attention to the
strong box. Five sticks Of dynamite were
placed on top of the safe and ignited. out
the force of the charge was insufficient ana
another one with a larger cap was useo
The second charge exploded with terrific
force blowing out the side of the car and
throwing the safe distance Of forty feet
After rfling the safe Of Its valuables the
robbers commanded the train crew to re-
main quiet and no harm would be done
them. While this conversation was going
on one of the robbers accidentally struck
the engineer with his revolver, and, IN
apologizing called him by name indicating
a possibility that the r0bber may be a rail-
road man.
The party then left the express car and
the men were ordered back to the engine
under cover of the guns. The robbers then
passed to the rear Of the train, and after
putting out the train lights, disappeared In
the darkness. Meanwhile the passengers
were terror-s tricken and had crawled under
every place that offered a hiding.
Rear Brakeman Escapes to Alarm.
The rear brakeman, the moment he un-
derstood what had happened slipped OH the
rear Of the train and ran back to Bear
Mouth, where communication was had with
the superintendent and the sherif's ONCE
at Mssoula. A posse was Immediately sum-
moned and engine, car of horses ana
Superintendent Thalmer's private car were
soon on the way to the scene. The posse
was headed by Sheriff Thompson. The
bloodhounds at Deer Lodge prison have
been wired for.
1t rs believed there are i2.lr of the hold
ups, all told. Four men have been In Bear
Mouth for the past two or three Gays, ana
it is said have been laying in large sup
ply of groceries, and especially canned
goods.
The theory is that they have rendezvous
not far from the scene of the hold-up. A
light engine from Drummond bearing eight
deputies was Immediately started, and 1t Is
thought the men cannot escape. Two depu-
ties are on their way from Mtssoula up the
He'll Gate canon to head off escape in that
direction while two other officers we're let
off the train at McCarthy's bridge to hold
off escape there. 1t is learned that the rail-
road people were expecting the hold-up for
the past two days, but looked FOR II on the
Phillfpsburg branch.
Two boys, Ralph Daily and Albert Horton,
were stealing a ride on the blind baggage,
and both say they can identify the men.
Supt. Thalmer is cooperating with Sheriff
Thompson in planning the pursuit. and
early today started out on their hunt for
the two desperadoes. DAILY. one Of the
blind baggage passengers, got down as soon
as possible after the safe was robbed, look
ing for loose money. All he could find was
a stack of worthless money orders, which
he turned over to Supt Thalmer. The train
was in charge of Conductor Grant. The
wrecked express car was brought to Bear
Mouth.
Booty of Small Value.
ST PAUL, Mimi. June IA report of
the Northern Pacific train hold-up by rob-
bers near Burmouth, Mont. was received at
the general offices of the road here today,
and, according to the statements made to
the Associated Press at General Manager
Horns office the report of the hold-up as
carried In the Associated Press dispatches
was correct. except as to the amount of
booty secured by the robbers The officials
said that nothing of great value was taken
from the express safe.