The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-04

Tacoma, Oct 3.-An Everett special
to the Ledger says: The Great North
em overland due here at $3.50 Monday
night reached Everett at l2:l5 o'clock
this morning. The delay was caused by
one of the boldest holdups in the his.
tory of rairoading on the Pacific coast
The holdup occurred just south of the
brick yard, near Ballard, which is To-
Gated near the ten mile post.
Three dynamite shots were put into
the through safe, the robbers working
until $50 o'clock before they finished
the job. They worked over an hour
and half. Most of the contents of the
through safe werf secured. Express
Messenger Anderson says he does not
know how much they obtained, but says
they left some OF its contents in the
wreckage. The local safe was not
touched.
No one was injured seriously, al.
though continual fire of revolyers was
kept up. Stories differ as to the num-
Der of robbers engaged in the job.
There were at least three. There may
have been four, or even more.
A torpedo on the track first attratc'
ed Engineer Calder's attention. Then
another torpedo explosion came and
then a red light was swung over the
track. The rain caused the engineer
some apprehension as the track near
the point of the noldup is troubled with
mud slides. He brought his train to
a stop. While slowing down his atten-
tion was called to fobber standing
over Fireman Gorett with gun in his
face. Almost at the same instant an
other robber held gun over the en-
gineer's face. The bandits were masked,
wore rubber hats and rubber coats.
They had crawled over the tender.
As soon as the train was stopped
these robbers took the engine men of
ihe locomotive and back to the baggage
car where they compelled Express Mes
senger Anderson to leave his car.
They compelled obedience in rough
manner, using their guns with good ef-
feet, but fortunately wounding no one.
They at once began dynamiting. Ex.
press Messenger Anderson and the en-
ginemen say that they were compelled
TO remain with the robbers and watch
the proceedings. Three charges of dyna-
mite were fired. The first was a small
affair, six sticks being used. The Sec
ond contained IL sticks and the third Is
sticks.
The car and most ST its contents are
a total wreck. There was considerable
delay between shots. When the work
was getting under way, after the train
had been stopped, and especially after
the first shot was fired, number of
the passengers attempted to go for
ward to witness operations, but their
were halted by fire from
revolvers. A high bank was at the east
Of the train and the waters of Puget
Sound close to the track on the west
side. Their bullet holes through the
baggage ear all struck in diagonally.
The head brakeman started back
lown the track. Several shots were
fred at him, but he extinguished his
lantern and kept going. He thinks he
lad gone half mile when he was halt
ID and instructed 10 return to the train |
BY one of the bandits who had been |
stationed back of the train. Conductor
Grant managed to leave the train in
spite of the hail of bullets. He ex- |,
-inguished his light and remained where !,
ne could observe operations, but was
unable to proceed toward the scene of |
their operations. After the bandits had |
left the scene the trainmen attempted |
10 tap the wire and report, and this
caused further delay. No attempt was
made to rob the passengers, most of
whom were panic stricken throughout |
the ordeal.