Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-03
PENN TRAIN HELD
UP, $1,000 IS TAKEN
Wild West Affair Happens Near
Lewistown-Crew Resists High
wayman and Latter Fired.
Conductor Shot in Hand.

LEWISTON. Pa, Aug. sl.-A lone
.hfrhwayuian. believed to be a foreigner.
held I'D the Pittsburg and Northern eX-
press on the Pennsylvania railroad al
+ Lewistown Sarrows. one OF the lone
scrnest places on the line. at O'Clock
this morning. lntimidated the train crew
and robbed the express car in a caring
= manner.
While there were thousands of dollars
IN the express car. the robber is believed
to have secured only $40. With this he
!. made good his escape and IS believed 10
be hiding IN the mountain Businesses and
cafe for the present.
The railroad company put pack OF
aloodhounds from, Chillicothe, Ohio. on
his trail and the capture of the desperate
- believed TO be almost a certainty. The
dogs are owned by the B. & o. and are
kept for Just such an emergency.
COVERED THE CREW
The hTghwayman. who was masked and
possessed Of remarkable GOODNESS. cowed
the rsilroaders completely, the only show
OF resistance being made by the conduc-
tor. Isaac r. Poffenberger, one OF tbs
eldest men In active service OF the COM
pany When Poffenberger attempted TO as
sert his authority. the highwayman shot
him through the hand and fired more
shots at him as he fed into the darS
ness. "-'.' 's
The surrounding country IS aroused over
the occurrence and the railroad company
Is making extraordinary efforts TO quick
~ capture desperate
The train. consisted of two engines.
Ehree EXPRESS cars and two sleepers. The
sienaI cap placed on the track brought
the train TO a stop. Engineers John Long
and Baizer Beahm. both Of Altoona, on
aiighting from their cabs were confront
Cd BY a masked man with two revolvers
who ordered hands up"
Conductor I. r PoIenberger, of Har-
rIsburg. came up and, taking in the sit
uafion. started 20 run for the rear OF the
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 IL up with dynamite
II not obeyed-
MONEY BAGS TAKEN OUT.
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 were or
dered back 70 their positions and the train
moved OF. 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 trainmen.
Later investigation disclosed six sticks OF
dynamite between the tracks at the point
where the cap exploded. This is accepted
As evidence that Il was the intention OF
the robber 70 blow up the train
The offieials Of the Pennsylvania rail-
road here confirm the robbery of train
No. 9 near Lewistown. Pa. early today.
STATEMENT OF OFFICIALS.
= we are sorry to say the train was
held I'd and robbed. One OF our en-
ployes wss shot in the hand His injury
"A slight. From reports at hand now IL
appears the robber-there was only one
ala not get much money. In the express
car was@over $500 IN bullion well as
= large amount of Lincoln pennies We
understand the highwsyman was COM
PEELED 20 drop the bullion In order to es-
cape.
The train was known as the Pfttsburg
and Northern express. IL left Philadelphia
shortly after O'Clock last night About
l.se o'clock this morning when near the
Lewfstown ~narrows on the middle divis-
lon Il was held up by a lone masked
hiEhwayman- The train was halted by
an explosion OF dynamite which slightly
s damaged the engine Before II could be
realized just what had happened the rob-
Der. with heavy revolvers in each hand,
Was In complete control Of the situation.
Conductor Poffenberger. OF Harris
burg refused TO obey an order Of the
highwayman and was shot in the hand"
PASSENGEhS w EhE ASLEEF.
PITTSBURG. Aug. S1--Train No. 80
the Pittsburg and Northern express OF
the Pennsylvania railroad. which was
held up near Lewistown early today. ar
rived at the union station here at s;2e
O. m.
Few. II any. OF the passengers could tell
a connected story Of the occurrence. AL
were greatly excited. but owing to the
Quickness with which the highwayman
worked, and the fact thar most OF them
we're asleep. none Of the passengers
knew much about the robbery.
-4 - ROBBER WAS ADEPT.
The train crew had been given orders
not 20 talk Messenger Harper made
report to the local officials in charge OF
the Adams Express company at the IN
ion station and then with a number of
detectives started back for the scene OF
the hold-up.
From reports here the robber made
three OF the crew stand in a corner of
the express car while he blew open the
safe. A view OF the safe shows that the
man knew his business He simply blew
the combination off which forced the
tumblers OF the lock loose.
Although the crew was within a few
feet OF rifles. none OF them felt like dis
oheyfng the highwayman. who backed
I'D his commands with two revolvers.
- Letter Carriers Omen Session