Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-02-24
LONE MASKED BANDIT
HELD UP NO. | ON q. s. 0.
eoares Pullman While Train is Climb
ing f7-Miie Grade and Takes
vsIuables at Point OF Revolver.

vaIuahles at Point OF Revolver.
I Bold and daring train robberies in
the West are no uncommon things and
cnce in a while a more daring bandit
operates closer to the populated cen
tres. 0aly a week or so ago several
men got away with $25,o 900 in the
heart OF the financial district of New
York, but the boldest robbery in this
part of the country was that Monday
when lone man boarded Baltimore
& Ohio train No. l while 1t was climb
ing the slope of the mountains west
OF Cumberland.
A masked robber leaped aboard he
rear Pullman car Of the train shortly
after 8 o'clock as 1t was winding its
way through Everett tunnel about
i miles from Piedmont, and after fir
ing several shots from two pistols he
held threateningly at the passengers.
in their berths, robbed them of jewels
and money.
He then jumped from the car with
out attempting to go iato the forward
cars and made his escape in the
mountains.
Baltimore Victims.
IL is thought that several Balti-
moreans were victims of the bandit,
Reaching Piedmont at 917 o'clock,
another engine was attached and the
start was made up the 17-mile grade
up the mountain side to Altamont,
small railroad town on top OF the
mountain, where the extra engines
are taken off the trains.
The grade is steep and the train
was moving at only about eight miles
an hour. easily enabling the robber to
hoard the rear sleeper. 1t was easy
for him to leap to the platform and
climb over the gate. The rear door
was open and the oaly persons who
were out of their berths, with the ex-
ception of the Pullman conductor and
the fiagman, we're several passengers
i'll the smoking room.
Surprised Trainmen First.
Quickly throwing back the door the
robber dashed into the car and held
ND the conductor and fagman, who
were near the door, by thrusting the
muzzles OF two revolvers in their
faces.
Hold up your hands quick!" he
commanded.
| The two men did as they were told.
| The robber was masked with a red
handkerchief, which he had tied about
the lower part of his face. He wore
cap, which was drawn down over his
| eyes.
Fired Two Shots.
"rang! Bangi" went two shots from
each OF the revolvers and then he or
dered the conductor and fiagman to
&c forward in the car. He demanded
money and jewels from the passen-
gers. The startled occupants of the
herths thrust their jewels and money
at him as he pushed his pistol to their
faces.
There was no attempt made to cap
ture the robber, and 1t is probable
that none of the passengers had
| pistol to hold him at bay until the
train reached the next station.
After relieving the passengers OF
large sum of money and much jewelry
tie bandit leaped from the platform
while the train was vending its way
up the steep grade.
The scene of the robbery is regard
ed as an ideal one for the operation
Of train bandits. 1t is long cut
through the mountain.
| The news of the robbery was COM
municated to the Baltimore and Ohio
police in Baltimore as quickly as pos
sible, and Chief Grant A. Ogline hur-
ried to the main office to confer with
officials of the road. The reports
were submitted to the chief, who left
Baltimore at 305 o'clock this morn
ing. He was accompanied by several
of his men, and their destination was
Altamoat, near where the robber left
the train with his booty.
Chief Ogline stated that the place
where the robbery occurred was a
wild section and one well suited for
nold-up. He said it was the first time
that such a bold attempt had been
made since he entered the employ OF
the Baltimore and Ohio.