The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-07-01
Bandits
Rob Train
Dozen Men Held Up Fast Train on
Outskirts OF Erie Last
Night.
TWO WOUNDED AND
EXPRESS CAR RlFLED
Obstruction Placed on Track and
Train Had Close Call From
Being Wrecked.

ERIE. Pa. June 3U.--A fast mail and
a passenger train on the philadelphia
4 Erie Railroad was held up tonight
five miles from this city by band of
a dozen masked men. The mail and
express cars were rified. and two ot
the crew. {. II. Black. of Erie mail
clerk. and II. ID. Rooney. Erie. conduct
or. were injured Block was shot II
the right side and was taken 10 a hos
pital in dying condition. Rooney
received serious injuries when ne was
hit with stone thrown by one of the
robbers.
The train was due in this city 1T
1910 tonight 4 few minutes before
10 o'clock. when the train was MAX
ing large curve. the engineer saw
an obs ructiun ahead. lie stopped the
tram with all possible speed. Out not
before II crashed into poles. that had
been placed across the track
When the train hit the obstruction
II was first believed by the passengers
thar there had been collision with
another train. The next moment, how
ever. the crack OF revolvers acquaInt-
them with the real cause of the trains
stop.
As the train came TO a standstiIi.
several OF the passengers alishtcd TO
ascertain the trouble. Their presence
drew the fire OF the band OF masked
men. and there was a stampede 10
re-erter thsRars.
Throw Passenger 500 Feet.
An unknown passenger. who.braver
;han the rest. caught hold OF one OF
the robbers. Was picked up bodily and
thrown over q 300 foot cmbankmer.
HIS condition Is serious The man
cad. face and body were badly cut
and his clothing torn from his back
lie was taken 20 a hospital IN AN uu.
conscious condition The spot Sc
iected by the robbers was ideal tor
'hrtr work ON one side of the -ail-
road i- idrgr rayine and thc other
side ls dense woods The men had
hidden among the trees. 10 was from
This point that all OF them mad.
their appearance when the train came
20 a stop
Almost before tho train had reached
thc obstruction. the masked band had
taken mp their position ~ practically
every entrance 70 rhe cars When the
passengers began pouring from the
train there was few sharp cries from
the men 20 get back into the cars.
When q number OF the excited pa-.
seugers failed 20 take this advice the
bandits opened fir. They shot along
the sides Of the cars. level with the
windows and This effectively put au
end 20 the curiousi'y of The pdssen-
gers.
Panic in Cars.
Within The cars there vls panic
4 number OF women tainted. while
the screams OF others caused much
confusOiu
The train arrived 100 This city about
midnight The passengers wor.
dazcd from fright and couid not give
90 connected story of what had takcn
place Many az fhe women were hiss.
tcrIC8i and required attention ..
large number OF those aboard
we're from Philadelphia Buffalo and
Intermediate points The train vas
made up OF four day coaches and two
Puum1ns II mcnft thr through Ph1.
do'phn and buffalo train at Empor
iUm. ra
According 900 'ho opinion here. 10 !.
not O. train fhl. expert robbers would
be- expected 90 attack o. I- believed
the bandits we're forDigncrs