The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-06-02
BANDIT TRIES TO y
HOLD UP TRAIN
DARING AND ALMOST SUCCESS
Full ATTEMPT TO ROB THE
LIMITED.
QUICK WIT SAVES THE MONEY
COURAGE OF ENGINEER AND
MESSENGER DEFEATS THE
ROBBRE'S PLANS.

Missoula Mont, May 80. - A lone
! robber made a daring and almost sue
cessful attempt to hold up and rob
the east bound North Coast limited ON
the Northern Pacific Saturday night
at Bearmouth. the little station which
has been the scene of so many fame Is
train robberies That the bandit WIS
not successful, and that he is now a
prisoner, unconscious. in the county
Jail at Drummond. is due to the quick
wit and courage of Engineer Wilson
and Express Messenger Laub.
Ordered to Halt.
The train reached BearmOuth at IL
o'clock Saturday night, and had just
finished taking water, when the engl-
neer and fireman heard a gruff voice
ordering them to hold up their hands,
the command being reinforced by
couple of siX-shooters in the hands or
a tall, broad-shouldered fellow, whose
face was partially concealed by
slouch hat, which was pulled down
low over his forehead.
The engine crew promptly obeyed
the summons and were then ordered
to decend and cut loose the express
car This was done, and the bandit
ordered them to pull out, the remain
ing on the engine and keeping the en-
gineer and fireman covered with his
revolvers.
When Mile Post No. 81, two miles
east of Bearmouth, was reached, the
engine was halted and the robber
marched the engineer to the express
car, where he was ordered to summon
the messenger to come out.
Is Taken Unawares.
The messenger, taken unawares,
opened the door at the engineers
summons and. seeing that a hold-up
was in progress, quickly closed it and
refused to allow the engineer or the
bandit to enter. The robber, however,
had a plentiful supply of dynamite.
and threatened, if the messenger did
not leave the car, to blow the car up
with the messenger inside it. Under
this duress, the messenger agreed to
come out, and, after being relieved of
his revolver he was lined up with the
engineer and fireman.
The rCbber then attached a stick of
dynamite to the safe in the car and
blew off the door, badly shattering the
side of the car.
When the smoke of the explosion
had sleared away the engineer was or
dered to enter the car ahead of the.
robber, and the messenger to follow.
AS the bandit found himself in the
car he ordered Wilson to strike
| match, that they might take view
of the damage done by the explosive
AS the tiny fame f1ickered the bandit
swept his eye through the wrecked
car and saw the wealth of the safe
scattered about in great confusion
Ready to Strike.
But Engineer Wilson saw some4
thing more. He saw that Messenger
Laub, who was following the bandit.
had picked up heavy piece of timber
from the wrecked car, and held it
raised ready to deal the robber a.
death blow. Wilson quickly blew out
the match and almost at the same in
stant the bludgeon descended upon
the outlaws skull, knocking him un-
conscious.
The messenger and engineer quickly
seized the PROSTATE robber, bound him
with rope, and, running the car on to-
Drummond, turned him over to the
county officials. He had not regained
consciousness late yesterday, and 1t is
believed that he will not recover.
The express car was not SO badly
wrecked that it could not go on with
the train, and after the scattered
contents of the safe had been gath
cred up and temporary repairs made.
the engine was run back to the rest of
the train, and the journey eastward
was continued.
There was much excitement and un-
easiness among the passengers aboard
the train. but none of them was mo-
Tested in any way. The contents OF
the safe was not much injured. and
none of the valuables was DESTROYED
So far the lone robber has not been
identified.