Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-06-22
BANDITS ROB
THE LIMITED
Successful HoId-up Of the Best TraIr
on the Northern Pacific Railroad
Booty Secured.
CLEAN JOB BY THE ROBBERS
No One Hurt and the Work is Done
in a Speedy and Systematic Man.
ner-oHicers on the Trail.

Missoula, Mont, June IA spec
ial to the Muscular from Bearmouth
says:
At IL o'clock last night two masked
men held up the North Coast limited
Northern Pacific passenger train,
east bound, about a 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 all of its contents. The
amount secured is not known, but IL
is believed to be large.
After blowing out the rear lights
Of the train. the two men disappeared
in the darkness and have not been
seen since.
The hold-up was similar to the one
which occurred two years ago IN
nearly the same spot, and in which
Engineer O'Neill 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 the engineer and
fireman with their guns and told them
to throw up their hands.
Engineer Wade was then command
ed to bring his train to a stand still
and he Immediately 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
entrance they forced the engineer 10
light a cigar. The express messenger
was commanded TO open the door OF
the car, but refused to do SO.
The engineer was next commanded
to light a stick of dynamite, of which
explosive they had a large quantity,
and place the lighted stick against
the car door. The force of the explo-
sion completely wrecked the door and
the engineer and fireman were com
PEELED to precede the hold.ups into
the car.
Once admission was gained, the hold
ups at nee directed their attention
to the strong box. Five sticks OF dy.
Mantle were placed on top OF the
safe and ignited. The force OF the
charge was insignificant and another
and larger charge was used. The sec
ond charge exploded with terrific
force, blowing out the side OF the car
and throwing the safe a distance OF
forty feet.
After rifing the safe of its valu.
ables. the robbers commanded the
train crew to remain quiet and nc
harm would be done them.
While the conversation was going
on. one of the robbers accldentall'
struck the engineer with his revolver
and in ~apologizing for it called his
name, indicating a possibility that he
may be a railroad man. The party
then left the express car and the men
were ordered back to the engine, be,
ing covered with guns until they had
obeyed the mandate.
The robbers then passed to the
a of the train and after shooting
out both the rear lights of the train
disappeared in the darkness. Mean.
while the passengers were terror.
stricken and had crawled under every
vantage place which offered a hid.
ing.
The rear brakeman, the moment
he realized what had happened. slip
ped off the rear of the train and ran
back 10 Bearmouth. where communi
cation was had with the s%uperintend
ent's and sheriff's offices in Missoula
A posse was Immediately summoned
and at 1910 o'clock IN engine, a cal
of horses and Superintendent Pal
mer's private car was on its way tC
the scene. arriving at . O'Clock.
The posse consisted of Sheriff
Thompson. Under Sheriff Sterling
Geo. Sanders, Ed Larson, Chicl
White. James McCaffery and William
Carter. II was daylight about :
o'clock and the posse ~immediatel,
started in pursuit.