Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-04-30

Northeren Pacific train No. was
held up at 1925 last night, three
miles east OF Hauser Junction in this
county, by two highwaymen, describ-
ed by Conductor A. F. Miley as being
one a very large man, and the other
other of ordinary build. They cut the
engine and one mail car from the
train, took two shots at the fireman,
missing him by narrow margin, or
dered him of the engine, and put a
gun to EngineerWhittlesey's head,
demanding that he go ahead until
they told him to stop.
One bandit took the place of the
fireman, and as they passed through
Eauser at 1890 p. m. he was throw
ing coal into the firebox in an mex
perienced manner. This, together
with the fact that there were no
markers on the rear of the train and
the engine crew disregarded signals.
caused Operator Jones to surmise
that it was a holdup and he immed-
lately notified the dispatcher in Spok-
ane to that effect
Officials in Spokane and this city
we're at once notified, and while the
registered sacks in the mail car were
being robbed between Trent and
Yardley, posses were forming to over
haul the bandits. The engine and
mail car ran by its signals at Trent,
10 miles east of Spokane. and were
found by the Northern Pacific rescue
train at a point about a mile and a
half west of Trent.
Electric Lights Out.
Conductor Miley's version is: On
leaving Rathdrum the electric lights
we're cut OF. The electrician on the
train repaired the lights but they
we're soon extinguished again. He at
once knew it was holdup and went
forward and found they had cut the
mail car and engine from the train,
ordered everyone out of the mail car,
took the engineer with them a mile
down the track and threw him on.
As the robbers started, after TAX
Ing two shots at the fireman and driy-
Ing him of the engine, they discov-
cred young man beating" It" on
the engine tank. The smaller bandit
said: we overlooked you, you -,
you get of too" and took i've shots
at him. He fell OF the tank and
rolled down the embankment. II
was supposed he had been hit, but he
soon came back to the train badly
heightened. He is not more than II
OF Is years old. He gives some val
liable information concerning the
holdups. He had been riding on the
engine from Standpoint and says the
Two men came out of the Palace ho-
'ei at Standpoint and climbed to the
Top Of a car keeping completely out
Of sight until they had reached Rath-
arum. AS the train started from
Nat place they came down and at
tempted to cut the train while in
notion. but failed and not until the
uain had come to a full stop did they
mcceed.
Six Sacks OF Mail Opened.
SPOKANE. Wash, April 30.-Ac-
eording to information obtained
shen the train arrived in this city
l;SO this morning. Northern Pa
slne train No. 8 was held up at 1880
-st night by two masked bandits
Atee miles west of Rathdrum, Idaho.
ne mail car and engine were de-
-ehed from the train and taken two
.iles west OF Trent. where they were
Aoandoned. Six sacks OF mail were
Opened. but the pOstohiee inspectors
yet do not know the value Of the
hander secured.
FRED Whittlesey. the engineer pull
ing the train. is the same engineer
saose train was held up last summer
practically the same spot near
rent Conductor Joe Miley. in
s-@fse Of the train. and Engineer
Aittlesey are both OF the opinion
aAt the men who held up the train
~ night are the men Who turned
y similar trick last summer.