Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-09-02
lone HIGHWAVNAN
WORKS THE EAST
Robbed Pennsylvania Express In
Western Style.
STOPPED TRAIN WITH DYNAMITE
Compelled Train Crew to Carry Gold
and Bullion Out Of Express Car
Shot Conductor In
Hand.


most audacious and startling hold ups
Of railroad train in the east for years
occurred on the eastern slope Of the
Allegheny mountains. A lone high
wayman stopped Pennsylvania rail-
road express train with a dynamite
cartridge and at the point Of re-
v0lver compelled the crew to carry
thousands Of dollars in coin and bull
lion from an express car to spot in
the wilderness. When the conductor
Of the train attempted to interfere
with the robbers plans he was shot in
the hand and the bandit succeeded in
making good his escape. In the dark
ness, however, he mistook bag con-
tanning 10000 new Lincoln pennies for
gold coin and staggered away with 1T,
leaving the real gold bullion to be re-
covered by the railroaders.
When the news of the robbery
reached the railroad and express COM
pany officials they Immediately or
dered every available detective from
the east and west to the scene in an
effort to capture the bandit. Blood
hounds were also put on his track but
up to late hour no trace of the man
had been found.
The looted train was running
through Lewistown narrows a wild
and lonely mountain gorge through
which flows the Juniata river, when
suddenly dynamite cap exploded and
the engine driver brought the train to
standstill. When he looked to see
what the trouble was he was con-
fronted 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 was then 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 stopping
Of the train.
A revolver was pointed at the mes
senger's head and threatening to blow
up the car with dynamite the robber
forced the messengers Of the two ex.
press cars and engine crew to carry all
the gold and bullion stacked In the
FIRST 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 other grazing his body.
Despite the appearance Of three pas
sengers who had been awakened by
the shooting, the robber calmly or
dered the crew back on the train and
compelled them to steam away, leav'
ing the bullion beside the track. 1t
was recovered later by posse sent
on a special train. When the train
was leaving, he called out:
Good bye and good luck; hope to
see you again
1t was 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.
No clew to the robbers identity has
vet been discovered. He is described
as being about 1--WE feet eight inches In
height and was dressed in dark cloth
ing and wore SLOUGH hat pulled well
down over his eyes. He used ex-
cellent English but had slight foreign
accent
Agent Hamaker of Lewistown, sent
a safe to the scene Of the robbery to
receive six bags Of pennies on which
the seals had not been broken but
which had been cut open with sharp
knife to ascertain the contents and