Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-09-03
BANDIT MOVES $4,000 FROM Elk
PRESS CAR, BUT FLIES WITH
ONLY 500.
CONDUCTOR SHOT IN HAND.
Fireman Is Compelled, at Point of Re-
volver, to Aid in Carrying Money
Bags and Gold Bullion.
DONE IN WILD WESTERN STYLE.

LEWISTOWN, Pa, Aug. 31.-A bold
robber stopped a westbound express train
on the Pennsylvania railway at the mar
rows, eight miles east OF here, early to-
day, robbed the express car of $500 III
gold and escaped into the mountains.
The train was stopped by signal cap
at one of the most inaccessible points on
the railroad. A masked man stepped out
of the bushes along the tracks and COW
cred the engineer and fireman with re
volver.
The highwayman moved along to the
baggage car, but could not open it. He
then went to the next car, which was
the express car and ordered the messen-
ger to open the door. The messenger
obeyed.
Orders Fireman to Help.
The safe in the car contained $Z0,OVo
in money and bullion. Realizing the need
of assistance III getting away with the
money, the robber called to the hfenah
of the train for help, and. still wearing
his mask, gathered up some Dags OIL lhoH-
CIV and with the fireman in the lead, also
csirrving bags of coin, started from the
car. The TWO men laid down their Duf-
den and the fireman was ordered back 10
bis train.
If looked as if one of the most dar-
ing train robberies ever attempted IN the
eastern country had been successfully ac-
complished. as the highWayman appar-
entity had everything his own way. At
this iuncture, however, two or three or
the passengers who had been aroused by
the unusual stop came on the scene, ana
their presence encouraged the tralnmen
to offer resistance.
The robber opened ire, but the only
damage he inflicted was to send d bullet
through the hand of Conductor Isaac K.
Potfenberger, one of the oldest and best
known conductors in the service OF the
company. The highwayman then
grabbed a bag Of money and fled up the
mountain leaving practically all OF his
booty where the fireman had deposited 1t
for him.
The train consisted of two engines,
three express cars and two sleepers.
The signal cap placed on the track
brought the train to stop to ascertain
the cause. Engineer John Long and
Palzer Beahm, both of Altoona. on
alighting from their cabs We're confront
ed by masked man with two revolvers,
who ordered Hands up!'
Threatens to Blow Up Car.
Conductor |. r. Poffenberger of Har
risburg, came up and taking in the sit
uatlOn, started TO run Tor the rear Oh Tue
train. The robber fred five shots at
him, one taking effect in the right hand.
He then ordered the express car opened,
threatening to blow it up with dynamite
if not obeyed.
The car was opened and at the direc-
ton of the robber the money bags were
carried to the side of the tracks. When
as much money was stacked up as one
man could carry, the trainmen We're
ordered back to their positions and the
train moved off.
1t is thought about 500 was OBJ
tanned Several of the bags contained
pennies which were found this morning
near the scene of the hold-up.
Only one man was seen by the train
men. Later investigation disclosed six
sticks of dynamite between the tracks
at the point where the cap exploded.
This is accepted as evidence that it was
the intention of the robber to blow up
the train.
The railway company is using pack
of bloodhounds from Chillicothe, O., and
the capture of the desperate is believed
to be almost a certainty. The dogs are
owned by the Baltimore & Ohio railroad
and are kept for such an emergency.