The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-08
HOLDS UP TRAIN
Work of Lone Bandit Who Took
Cash and Left
TO PARTS UNKNOWN
Compelled Train Crew to Unload
Bullion and Coin for Him and
Then Orders Them to Proceed.
Some of the Booty Recovered, but
the RObber Escapes.

Some of the Booty Recovered, but
the Robber Escapes.
A dispatch from Lewiston, Pa,
q y one Of the most audacious and
startling holdups Of a railroad train
in the East for years occurred in
the eastern slope of the Allegheny
mountains early Tuesday, when a
lone highwayman stopped a Penn
sylvania railroad express with a dy-
Mantle cartridge and at the point
of a revolver compelled the crew to
carry thousands Of dollars In coin
and bullion from an express car
to a spot in the wilderness.
When the conductor Of the train
attempted to interfere with the rob-
ber's plans he was shot In the hand
and the bold bandit succeeded In
making good his escape.
In the darkness, however, he mis-
took a bag containing 10000 new
Linioln pennies for gold coin and
staggered away with 1t, leaving the
real gold bullion to be recovered.
When the news Of the robbery
reached the railroad and express
company officials they Immediately
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, but up to a late hour
Tuesday night no trace Of the mar
had been found.
The looted train was made up OF
an engine, three express cars and
two sleeping coaches filled with pas
sengers. At about 1870 B. m. 1t was
running through Lewistown narrows,
when suddenly a dynamite cap ex-
ploded and the engine driver brought
the train to a standstill. Then he
was confronted by a masked man,
with a gun pointed at him.
Are there any mail cars on this
train" demanded the highwayman.
mo-" was the reply Of the start
led engineer.
The engine crew was then forced
at the point of the gun to accom-
pany the robber to the first express
car. A revolver was pointed at the
messengers head and threatening to
blow up the ar. The robber forced
the messenger of the two express
cars and engine crew to carry all
the gold and bullion stacked in the
FIRST car to the side, of the track.
Conductor L.. r. Pofenberger of
Harrisburg, Pa, who came up while
this work was being accomplished,
was ordered back by the bandit, who
emptied one of his reyolvers at him,
one of the shots penetrating his hand
and the others grazing his body.
Despite the appearance Of three
passengers who had been awakened
by the shooting, the robber calmly
ordered the crew back on the train
and compelled them to steam away,
leaving the bullion beside the track.
1t was recovered later by a posse
sent on a special train. When the
train was leaving he called out:
"Good-by, and good luck; I hope to
see you again."
1t was reported that in addition
to the missing pennies several thou
sand dollars in currency vas miss
ing, but the express company Of
fcials refuse to announce the exact
amount of their loss.
Agent Hammaker Of Lewistown
sent a safe to the scene Of the rob-
berry to receive six bags Of pennies
on which the seals had not been
broken, but which had, been cut
open with a sharp KNIT to ascer-
tain the contents and abandoned by
the robber In disgust.
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