The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-09-02
Lone Train Bandit Mistakes Lin
coin Cents for Gold.
DARING ROBBERY IN EAST
Highwayman, Singlehanded, Stops
Pennsylvania Express with Dyna-
mite, Shoots Conductor and
Escapes with Cash.

cartridge and at the point of revolt
yer compelled the crew to carry thou
sands of dollars in coin and bullion
from an express car to spot in the
wilderness.
When the conductor of the train at
tempted to interfere with the robbers
plans he was shot in the hand and the
bandit succeeded in escaping.
Mistakes Pennies for Gold.
In the darkness, however, he mis-
took bag containing 10000 new Lin.
coin pennies for gold coin and stag
gered away with it, leaving the real
gold bullion to be recovered by the
railroaders. . @
When the train was leaving, he
called out: "Good-by and good luck;
hope to see you again." =
1t is reported that in addition to
the missing pennies several thousand
dollars in currency was missing but
the express company officials refuse
to announce the exact amount of their
loss.
When the news of the robbery
reached the railroad and express COM
pany officials they were deeply con-
cerned at it's boldness and immediate.
ly ordered every available detective
from the east and west to the scene
in an effort to capture the audacious
bandit. Bloodhounds were also put
on his track.
Superintendent Preston and other
officials of the middle division of the
Pennsylvania railroad have estab-
lished headquarters at the signal
tower near the scene to make as thor
ough an investigation of the crime as
possible. The general superintendent
and general manager of the Adams
Express Company are on the ground
to assist in directing the search.
Selects Lonely Spot.
The looted train was made up of an
engine, three express cars and two
sleeping coaches filed with passen-
gers. At about 1880 a. m, it was
running through Lewistown narrows,
wild and lonely mountain gorge
| through which flows the Juniata river,
when suddenly dynamite cap explod-
ed and the engine driver brought the
train to a standstill. When he looked
out to see what the trouble was he
was confronted by a masked figure
holding a revolver in either hand.
Are there any mail cars on this
train?" demanded the highwayman.
NO" was the reply of the startled
engineer.
The engine crew then was forced at
the point of the gun to accompany the
| robber to the first express car, where
the messenger was looking out to dis
cover the cause of the sudden stop
| ping of the train. A revolver was
pointed at the messengers head, and,
threatening to blow up the car with
dynamite, the robber forced the mes
| sengers of the two express cars and
engine crew to carry all the gold and
bullion stacked Il the Crst car to the
side of the tracks.
Conductor /. r. Poffenberger, of
Harrisburg, Pa, who came up while
| this work was being accomplished
was ordered back by the bandit who
emptied one of his revolvers at him,
one of the shots penetrating his hand
and the others grazing his body.
Couldn't Get His Rifles.
The express messenger of the train
says there were five large iron safes
in his car each containing a consider.
able sum of money, but he did not
know how much, as they had been
locked at Washington and could only
be opened by sub-treasury officials at
| st. Louis. He had two rifles at the
end of his car but could not get at
them after he had opened the door
and had been covered by the robbers
revolver.
Il ran ahead when the train
stopped" said Conductor Poffenberg
er, ito ascertain what was the matter
when | saw the engineer and fireman
coming toward me. Then / heard a
mans voice behind them saying, Stop
Hold UP your hands ar I'll kill you,
and when ! proceeded forward I was
shot in the hand Three other bullets
cut holes in my coat and others
whizzed past my head. | was under
the impression that the train was sur
rounded by desperadoe. and / ran
back to the rear of the train.
my first thought was for the safe
ty of the passengers in the unprotect
ed train. thought the robbers were
about to enter all the cars and hold
up the passengers"
Iowa Bank Is Robbed.
Mineola, Ia, Sept 1.-Two masked
men held up F. II. Nipp, cashier Of
the Mills County German bank, late
yesterday afternoon and escaped with
81 500 in cash. The cashier and two
farmers were kept in the back room
OF the bank by order of the robbers
while the second man took the money
a posse is In pursuit. but has not vel
secured any trace Of the robbers.