Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-02
Forced Train Grew to Carry
Thousands of Dollars from
Cars into Woods.
GRABBED THE WRONG BAG
Carried OFT 10000 New Lincoln PEN
MES Thinking 1t wns Gold Coin
Raiirondcrs Recovered the
RenI Bullion - Con ductcr
Shot through Hand.

Lewiston Pa. Aug. 31--One Of the
most audacious and startling hold
ups of railroad train in the East
for years occurred on the eastern
slope of the Allegheny mountains
early to-day when a lone highwayman
stopped n Pennsylvania express train
with dynamite cartridge and at the
point of revolver compelled the crew
to carry thousands OF dollars in coin
md bullion from an express car to a
spot in the Wilderness When tho
conductor of the train attempted to
Interfere with the robbers plans he
was shot in the hand and the bold
bandit succeeded in making good his
escape In the darkness, however, he
inistook bag containing 10000 new
Lincoln pennies for gold coin and
staggered away with II, leaving the
real gold hurlion to be recovered by
ihe railroaders.
When the news of the robbery
scacheG the railroad and express COM
pany officials they were deeply COP
rerned at It's boldness and inmed-
lately ordered every available detec-
tive from the East and West to the
dacious bandit Bloodhounds were also
put on his track but UP to late to-
night no trace of tho man had been
found.
Superintendent Preston and other Of
fcials of the middle division of the Penn
sylvania railroad have established head
quarters Mt the signal tower near the
tcene in order to make as thorough an
Investigation of the crime MS possible
Tile general superintendent and general
manager Of tho Adams Express company
are also on tho ground to assist In d.
rectng the search.
The looted train was made up Of an en-
CINE. three express cars and two sleepint
coaches filed with passengers. At abou
1870 a. m. II was running through Lewis
ton Narrows a wild and lonely mountain
gorge, through which flows the Juniatf
river. when suddenly a dynamite cap ex
ploded and the engine driver brought thu
train to standstll. When he looked on
to see what the trouble was he wa
confronted by masked figure holding
revolver IN either hand.
"Are~ there any mail cars on this
train?'' demanded the highwayman.
NO" was the reply of the startlet
engineer
The engine crew was then forced a
the point of the gun to accompany TIL
robber to the first express car wher
the messenger was looking out to Gs
cover the cause Of the sudden stoppln.
OF the train. a revolver was pointed a
the messengers head and threatening t
blow up the car with dynamite the rob
Der forced the messengers OF the tw
express cars and engine crew to carr!
all the gold and bullion stacked in th'
first car to the side of the tracks.
Conductor I. p. Poffenberger Of Har
r4shurG. Pa, who came UP while thi
work was being accomplished was order
Cd back by the bandit who empted on
OF his revolvers at him. one of tho shot
penetrating his hand and the other!
grazing his body
Despite the appearance OF those pas
sengers who had been awakened hv tn
shooting the robber calmly ordered tn
crew back on the train and compeile,
them TO steam away leaving the bullion
beside the track. II was recovered late
by posse sent on a special train. Whel
the train was leaving, hc called OUT
Good bye and good luck; hope t.
zee you. again.
RECOVERED ALI. BUT S66.
The robber took s. coo In bullion and $50
IN pennies from tho car and all OF thi
has been found along tho trail excep
tB
No clev to his identity has yet bee,
discovered He wore n slouch hat pule
well down over his eyes He used excellen
Tnglish but had n slight foreign accent
1nvos tigatlon disclosed six sticks o
dynamite between the tracks Mt TIL
point whore the cap exploded, This Il
accepted as evidence that 1t was the in
ten,ion NJ the robber 10 blow up tn
train.
In r statement the railroad official
say:
when tho dynamite placed on tn
track by the hghwaymen, exploded tn
headlight glass and windows Of the en-
CINE cab wcrc broken. Ono rail was tor
Lp also.