Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-06
Stopped Train on Wide Curve
by Putting DISTINCTIONS
on the Track.
RlFLED MAIL AND EXPRESS
Drove Passengers Back into Cars
and Hurled Bravest down
300-Foot Bank Three
Others Injured.

Erie, Pa. June CA fast mail and
passenger train on the Philadelphia &c
Erie railroad VS. held up tonight five
miles from this city by band of a dozen
masked ucu The mail aud express cars
were rifcd ana two of the crew, G. II.
Block of Erie mail clerk and II. u.
Rooney. Erie. conductor, were injured.
Block was shot in the right side and was
taken to a hospital in dying condition.
c. i. Hcm!s, brakeman. was also shot
in tho arm.
Rooney received serious injuries wher
he was hit with stone thrown by one
of the robbers. Tho train was due in
this city at 1910 tonight y few minutes
before ten o'clork when the train was
making a large curve the engineer saw
an obstruction ahead. lie stopped The
train with all possible speed, but not
before It crashed into ties and telegraph
poles that had been placed across tho
track.
when the train hit tho obstruction IL
was first believed that there had been
a collision with another train. The next
moment. h viewer, the crack Of revolvers
announced tie real cause of the trains
stop.
As the cars came to stands,ill sew
eral of the PASSENGERS alighted t. see
what was the trouble. Their presence
drew the fire If the band of masked
men and the was a stampede to re-
enter tho cars. An unknown passenger.
who Drawer than the rest, caught hold
Of one Of the robbers, was picked up
bodily and thrown over 900 foot en-
banhment His condition IS serious Tho
mans head, face and body were badly
cut and his clothing torn from his back.
He was taken to d hospital in an un-
conscious condition
The spot selected By the robbers was
Ideal for their work. on one side of tho
road is a large ravinc and the other sid.
is a dense wood. Tie men had hidden
among the trees. 1t was from this point
that all Of them made their appearance
when the train came to a stop,
Almost before the train had reached
the obstruction. the masked band had
taken up their position at practically
ever entrance to the cars. When the
passengers began pouring from the train
there was a few sharp cries from the mer
to got back into tho cars. When mum.
Der Of the excited passengers failed tc
take this advice the bandits opened fire
They shot along the sides Of the cars
level with the windows ana this effective.
Is put an end to the curiosity of tho
passengers.
PANIC IN TIE CARS
Within the cars there was a panic. 4
rumber of women tainted, while the
screams of others caused much confu.
sion.
The train arrived in this city about mid
night. The passengers We're dazed from
| fright and could not give a connected
story of what had taken place. Many OF
tie women were hystercal and required
attention.
| \ large number of those aboard were
from Philadelphia Buffalo and intcrme-
date points. The train was made up Of
four day coaches and two Pullmans. II
meets the through Philadelphia and Buff
falo train at Emporium, Pa.
| According to the opinion here, it il
| not a train that expert robbers would be
expected to attack. II is believed ths
| bandits were foreigners.