The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-30
SIGHT OF GOLD
TURNED HIS HEAD
HOW THE N. p. TRAIN ROBBER
LOST AT Boil DTRICK. f..
He Had His Victim Foul Until He
STOPPED to Rake Up the Glittering
Coins-Story Of the Montana Hold
up as the Express Messenger Told It.

w. H. Compton of Fargo, N. D., was
passenger on the Northern Pacific
train held up in Montana Sunday, and
whic harrived in Minneapolis yester
day about SPIN, three hours late. Tho
not on the train at the time of the rob-
berry, Mr.. Compton talked with the
conductor, engineer, express messen-
ger an dtwo soldiers who. i nturn
handled the robber, receiving version
Of the story from each. g..
"The hold-up took place in Bear
mouth canyon said Mr.. Compton;
"just where several other hold-ups
have been attempted. 1t is believed
the ribber had hidden himself on ths
top of the train and at that point
worked his way down to the engine.
There the first thing the engine crew
knew, both fireman and engineer were
vers and completely at the outlaw s
mercy. I'D .... ...
"He compelled them to stop the
train, then to uncouple the express car.
The locomotive was then made to- haul
the express car IS to 100 feet from the
train. This breaking Of the train dis
connected the electric light wires, and
the passenger coaches were at once IN
darkness The robber marched the fire.
man and engineer to the express car
and compelled the engineer to knock to
have the car door opened. The mes
senger responded, but at once closed
the door on seeing the armed robber.
Said He Had Dynamite. :.
Xxx open up, or. I've got. plenty of
dynamite and I'll use and open it my.
self,' exclaimed the robber: In re-
spouse to this threat the door was
opened. All were then compelled to
Chamber into the dark express car.
There the robber fixed dynamite
charge to the safe, but the express mes
senger managed to snuff out the fuse
when the robbers back was turned.
10 There's one of you fellows fool
ing with me, said the robber, and you
don It want to try it again or you IL not
90 back home with this train A sec:
ond charge failed, but a third did the
work. The top and sides Of the cal
were blown off, and the safe forced
open, exposing in the light Of Pickering
matches a pile Of gold pieces. -,
the mone sS1f Became IN hi fS
Turning his back on his prisoners, he
leaned over to use both hands in filling
his dynamite bag with the booty. a
second later, a heavy timber IN the
hands of the express messenger descend
ed on his head Engineer, fireman, anc
express messenger then piled on tn pros
trait man, but this was unnecessary
The robber was unconscious. On ex
animation later, some of his ribs seemed
fractured from the force with which hls
captors had jumped on him.
! Passengers Hid Their Rolls.
stThe first word the passengers had Of
the real trouble, was when tramp, Wh(
had been stealing a ride, rushed up tt
the conductor, and told him the ex
press messenger was being held up, am
begged for gun. The conductor leav
ing the train, began firing his revolve
at dark forms around the express car.
"'For God s sake don't shoot.
you I'll kill some Of us! yelled the engi
neer, while the robber replied to. tn
conductor IS fire with two or three shots
"The robber was a husky fellow. 81
woren mask, but pulled dark slouc!
i hat down over his eyese. During nj
performance he was in a good humol
and gave his commands in jocula
way. His revolvers wer strapped t
his wrists.
s'When the passengers learned that
holdup was in progress, there, was
panic to hide money and valuables. ROB
bers were expected to march thru tn
cars any moment, demanding booty. S
intense was the excitement of som
that after the affair was over, some fol
got where they hid their rolls o.. bill
The porters on the sleepers found COZ
!, siderable money tucked in mattresse
, and around sleeping berths, which Wa
! afterwards refunded to it's proper owl
ers.