Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-08-31
US[D DYNAMITE 10
STOP THE TRAIN
Forced Trdinmen TO Open Ex
press Car and Garry Money
In Sacks But Fled When
Passengers
Came.

Lewiston, Pa, Aug. 31.-Single-
handed. a daring robber stopped the
westbound Pittsburg & Northern ex-
press on the Pennsylvania railroad
at Lewiston NarrOWs. eight miles east
of here. at O'Clock this morning,
robbed the express car of $1,000 ana
escaped to the mountains. The roo
ber was forced to leave $4,000 in
bullion on the mountain side, where
the fireman of the train had been
forced to carry it. the passengers
having appeared armed and ready toI
give battle.
The train consisted of two engines,
three express cars and two sleepers
A signal cap placed on the track
brought the train to a stop and En-
gineers John Long and Balzer Beahm,
on alighting from their cabs, were
confronted by masked man win
revolvers, who ordered Hands up"
Conductor l. Il. Poffenberger came
up and, taking in the situation, start
ed on the run for the rear of the
train. The robber fired five shots at
him, one taking effect in his right
hand He then ordered the express
car opened and threatened to blow
il with dynamite if he was not obey
Su. ne car WAS pBtHtu anu tiI -
direction of the lobber several money
bags were caiTjod 10 the size ofN the
track.
An investigation disclosed that six
sticks Of dynamite had been placed
between the rails at the point where
the cap exploded This is accepted
as evidence that the robber intended
to blow up the train
Had S25,O0O in sight.
Philadelphia, Aug. 31.-Reports to
the Pennsylvania railroad in this city
say that the express safe in the car
held up near Lewiston contained $2o'-
600 i'm money and bullion.
Realizing the need of assistance,
the robber cOolly called TO the fire.
man of the train for help and, still!
wearing his mask, gathered up some
of the bags of money. With the fire.
man in the lead carrying bags of coin
he started up the mountain side. AT
a point about 300 yards up the in
cline the men laid down their bur-
den and the fireman was ordered
hack to the train.
II looked as though one of the
most daring robberies ever attempted
in this country had been successfully
accomplished. as the hold-up appar-
entity had everything his own way
Al this juncturc, however, two or
three passengers. aroused Dy the un-
usual stop. appeared on the scene
and their presence encouraged the
trainmen to offer resistance.
The robber opened fire but the
cnly damage inflicted was TO send a
bullet through the hand of the CON
ductor. Isaac r. Pofenberger, one of
the Oldest and best known men in
the service of the company
The highwayman then grabbed the
money and fed up the side of the
mountain. leaving practically all his
booty where the fireman had deposit
ed it, Some of the bags contained
500 in pennies. and it was thought
perhaps the robber had one OF these
As soon as Officials had been in
formed of the robbery the company's
detective force was put TO work
They are being assisted by the Bal1i-
more n Ohio railroads detective
force. which went to the secnr viii
a pack of bloodhounds. J..
Made Grew Assist.
Pittsourg Aug Sl.-Thc trail
whicn was held up near Lewiston
early this morning arrived at IN.
union station here at 9:20 this morn
ing Messenger Harper made a re
port to the local officials of the Ad
ans Express company and. with
number OF detectives, started for IN
scene of the hOld-up.
From reports here, the robbie
made three of the crew stand in
corner Of the express car while n
blew open the safe. 1t is reported
that ne made a messenger and guar
in charge of one express car go witt
him To the one he robbed.
It is reported that when the dyna
mite the robber placed on the tracI
tc stop the train exploded the head
light glass and windows in the en-