The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-12-22

st. Louis, Dec. 20.-A gang or -FOUR
burglars blew open the safe OF the
bank at Baldwin, ILL.,, As miles south
east Of st. Louis, on the Mobile & ONO
railroad, at a. m. Wednesday. They
discharged three blasts Of nitroglyc-
crime, blew the front out of the build
ing and shattered the outer doors OF
the safe, but were frightened away
before they got much booty. While
they were at work on the safe they
were attacked by citizens, who were
aroused by the noise. They opened fire
on the citizens, and for half an hour
lively battle ragged in the street. NO
one was hurt during the fight
Cashier Preston headed posse that
started after the burglars as soon as
horses and arms could be obtained.
Citizens Gave Them Battle.
The burglars drove into town in
rubber-tired buggy drawn by team
of dark horses. They went to the bank,
and three of them forced their way In,
leaving one of their number ON guard.
The first explosion of nitroglycerln
aroused w. r. Preston, cashier of the
bank, and he hurriedly dressed and
made an investigation. AS soon as he
approached the bank the lookout shot
at him. Preston was armed and re-
turned the fire. The three men in the
bank went to the aid of their COM
panion and all began firing at Cashier
Preston, and he was forced to retreat.
The shooting aroused the entire town
and dozen men got rifles and revolv-
ers and went to the aid Of Preston.
In the meantime the burglars had
returned to the safe and had dis
charged another blast Of explosive.
The lookout continued to shoot up and
down the street, the firing being al
most continuous.
The Burglars Escape.
A third blast of nitroglycerne was
discharged, but by that time so many
citizens had appeared that the burg
lars took fright. They ran from the
building, jumped into the buggy, he
gan firing up and down the street, and
drove away to the north They had
plenty Of time to get several miles
away before pursuit was undertaken.
The bank building was wrecked The
front of the place was blown out and
the furniture was demolished. The
safe doors were torn and twisted and
tho safe was made a pile Of scrap.
Explosions Scattered Money.
About $500 in paper money was
torn into shreds. but it can probably
be sorted out and saved.
About 81 900 in silver was found in
the debris of the safe. Until the ruins
Of the safe are searched, and the torn
money is sorted out and counted it will
be impossible to say how much the
burglars got, if they got anything.
Two OF the men wore long over
coats and two were short evercoats
and caps. Cashier Preston at once com
with the police authorities
in St Louis and East St. Louis and
asked them to be on the lookout for
tho burglars.
Baldwin is in Randolph county. in a
"oal region, and has about 500 inhabit-
ants.
BloodbOunds On the Trail.
A pack of bloodhounds owned bv AL !
Hamilton, cashier of the First national |
bank at Marissa, has been obtained and !,
put on the trail. 1t is believed that the |
gang will be overtaken, and it is ex-
1ected that a desperate fight will fol- /
ow, as the action of the burglars dur
ng the fight with the citizens of Bald
win indicate that they are profession
,ls and are prepared to offer fierce
assistance.
An Iowa Bank Robbed.
Des Moines, Ia, Dec 20.-Robbers
lynamited the safe of the Bank of !
Jdell, Ia, Monday night They secured
800 and escaped.