Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-17
COMMERCIAL STORE LOSS.
Nltro.GIycerine Used, Terrific Ex.
pIosion Shook the Town and
Caused Great Excitement.
Robbers Made Their Escape on an
oregon Short Line Hand-Car--
Officers In Pursuit.
Especial to the "News.")

Pennington. April IA most daring
attempt to blow up and rob the Davis
County bank at this place was made at
about o'clock this morning by three
robbers. They were successful In wreck
ing the room In which the vault Is,
and doing great deal OF damage TO
the vault and to the safe and other
property of the Commercial store. in
the same building, but they failed to
blow open the strong vault and were
frightened away before securing any
thing except revolver.
As result of the bold and desperate
action Of the robbers, this place is In u
high state of excitement, and citizens
have Joined with the officers In an eff
fort to run to earth the perpetrators OF
the outrage II Is confidently predicted
that If the fellows are oyertaken
bloody battle will ensue before the men
are taken, as they are doubtless armed
and prepared to make desperate fight
for liberty.
WELL LAID PLANS.
The wreckers had laid their plans
well. but had not counted on arousing
such a furore. Their first act was to
go to the oregon Short Line section
house and secure what tools they need
ed, and also a handcar on which they
made their escape. The section house
was opened by use of skeleton key,
and was locked after the robbers Sc
cured what they needed, They were
armed with Jimmy" and with this
instrument prled open the front door
Of the bank. The bank building is sit
uated in the business part Of town, and
opposite the courthoue.
USED NITRO GLYCERINE.
After gaining entrance to the build
inc the men bored holes In the vault
and IN the safe belonging to the Com
mercial store. Nitro glycerine was used
and the explosions were terrific. rock
ing the building to the foundtion. rem
derlng the contents of the room to
kndling wood, smashing all the win
dows, breaking down all the doors,
tearing up the floor in places and doing
great damage to the ceiling and walls.
Three distinct explosions were heard
for many blocks around. They were
70 loud and with such force that many
residence houses were shaken and thv
Inhabitants at first feared the town
had been visited by an earthquake,
EXCITEMENT RAN HIGH.
People ran screaming out Of their
houses. clad only in their night attire.
Women and children screamed and
cried while men yelled murder, po-
lice, robbers" etc. Several citizens
got out of their homes In time to see
the three desperadoes running south
as though legion of fends were after
them. They ju nped on handcar and
It is believed they headed for Salt
Lake.
FAILED TO GET CASH.
Although tho explosions wrecked
the Commercial store safe, and did
great damage TO the bank vault doors,
the robbers failed to get into the
money compartment There was no
money in the store safe but there were
some valuable records and some Of
these were damaged.
TRIED TO DIG THROUGH.
After trying to blow open the bank
vault by exploding the -glycerine
IN the front doors, and being unsuc-
cessful, the robbers went to the rear
of the vault and tried to dig their way
through the cement walls, but in this
they also failed, The damage done
10 the building was great.
OFFICERS IN PURSUIT.
Immediately after the explosions.
Deputy Sheriff Archie Brown was noti-
fed. He at once secured the assistance
OF two other officers and several citi-
zens and started In pursuit Wheth-
er or not they are on the trail of the
robbers has not been learned Word
was at once sent to Ogden. and officers
from the police and sherifrs depart
ments FASTENED to the scene. Salt
Lake authorities were also notified and
are doing what they can to locate the
Fafe blowers.
TOOLS FROM SECTION HOUSE.
The tools stolen from the section
mouse, and pieces Of fuse were found
among the wreckage. The handcar
has not been located and for this rea-
son there Is considerable speculation as
10 which way the men went. II will
DE days before the excitement abates,
and the feeling against the robbers is
70 intense that 1t would not be sur
prising II they were handled in no gem
ue manner II apprehended. Officers
ana citizens are determined upon cap
lure and are not sparing time or
trouble In running them down. II Is
understood that some OF the officers