East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-18

North Yakima, Dec. 1S.-Up to
o'clock this afternoon no possible clue
to the Northern Pacific train robbers
has been found, although 1t is believ-
ed they are in hiding in this city.
They are supposed to be ex-railroad
men. The robbery occurred at
O'Clock Saturday night. The North
Coast Limited No. /, westbound, was
held up and robbed by two masked
men, who boarded the train at Hill
side station, Is miles west of North
Yakima. Roth the local and through
safes were blown open by explosives,
but the amount of plunder taken is
unknown.
Two men did the job One was seen
climbing over the tender and he COW
cred Engineer George w. Howe with
a revolver. The train crew, which
was In charge of Conductor Jesse Hux-
table. was covered by the bandits.
who were masked and heavily armed.
The engineer was ordered to pro-
ceed a half mile west from Hillside
with the locomotive. mail, express and
baggage cars. Then, while one man
covered the crew. the other applied
explosives to the express car. Both
safes were shattered, as was also the
car.
The robbers helped themselves to
the plunder and then fastened off In
the direction of, North Yakima As
far as can be learned there was nc
shooting and no one was injured. The
express car was shattered almost to
pieces.
The sheriffs of Yakima and Kitti-
tas counties have organized possei
aRd started in hot pursuit within q
short time. A fair description OF the
men was secured. They were of me-
dium height and wore overalls. one
having been badly torn.
Officials OF the company state they
do not know how much money was Sc
cured. The contents of the through
safe are known only at the end of the
line and whas was In the local saf'
could not be learned. No passenger,
were molested.
The train had just left the Hillside
station, whore the bandits evidently
boarded II, when the two men crawl
ed over the tender and confronted
the engineer and fireman with drawn
reyolvers. Obeying their commands
the engineer slowed down the train
finally bringing 1t to a stop. The con
ductor hastened forward to see wha
the matter was and found himsel
looking down the barrel of gun. H'
was commanded to throw up hi
hands, as was the brakeman and othe'
members of the train crew. The!
were then ordered to uncouple th'
smoker and passenger cars. Whii'
one bandit covered the trainmen, th'
other stood guard over the enginee
and his assistant AS soon as the car
had been uncoupled the robbers board
ed the engine and ordered the engi
neer to start up. When they had pro
ceeded about half mile west the en-
gineer was ordered to halt
The men on the engine were thei
stood up alongside the track and or
dered to keep their hands up. On'
rObber watched tnern Wiiie 'he ouhe
used -glycerine on the express
car. The explosion that followed wa
terrific. The car door was shattered
and the fragments scattered all about
The safes were both blown up and thu
booty secured, how much Is no
known. The messenger had been or
dered to remain with the passenge
cars. as had the conductor, brakemeI
and others of the crew, except tn
fireman and engineer.
The express company refuses t.
state the amount of booty secured, bu
Il Is said to total n large sum. II
addition to the money taken a larg
quantity OF Christmas gifts was de
stroyed. The wreck of the expires
car delayed traffic several hours.