Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-08
HUNDRED REGISTERED
PACKAGES ALSO TAKEN
Posse With Bloodhounds Now Chas-
ing -Four Suspects Near Cen
trail Station.
ROBBERY QUICKLY, EXECUTED
Enginemen Forced at Point Of Guns
to Cut Off Mail Car From Train
and Then Proceed Far
Down Track.

WHEELING, w. Va, October
8.-Two masked men early today
held up and robbed a Baltimore
and Ohio express train from New
York to St. Louis, two miles west
of Central Station, w. Va. Their
booty was taken from mail cars.
The county officials were told
that the robbers secured from the
mail car about one hundred reg
istered packages and ninety pack
ages of unsigned bank notes be-
ing sent from Washington to
banks in the middle west.
The value of the currency was
estimated at 100000.
Telephone messages received
here soon after noon, said that a
sheriff's posse with b1oodhounds
had sighted four men in the foot
hills near Central station, and
were chasing them. They are be-
lieved to be members of the gang,
two of whom robbed the train.
Force Ensinemen to Act.
The train was due at Parkersburg at
1 am. and it was nearly an hour later
when Grant Helms.a the engineer. was
attracted by q noise from the tender.
Looking over bis shoulder he saw two
masked men climbing over the tcoal
each carrying an automatic shotgun.
They called for him not to move, and
"a minute later he and the fireman
were facing the guns. One of the men
ordered Helms to cut OF the engine and
through mail car from the remainder
of the train and then stood by Helms
directing the distance he should run
II. When two miles to the west had
been covered the highwaymen ordered
Helms to stop and climb down. while
the fireman was compelled to do like
wise. The other masked man then took
the throttle and as though well ac-
quainted with the operation Of the en-
CINE ran the train a mile or two fur
Their west.
Desert Train for Hills.
Here the robbers went through the mail
car, paying particular attention to the
registered mail, which they looted COM
pletely, and they then deserted the train.
going across the hills in the direction Of
the Ohio river. A short time later the
engine and mail car were found by
track walker where they had been left.
Meanwhile the crew left with the re-
mainder Of the train had been trying to
find the engine. They knew nothing of
what had happened except that the en-
CINE and mail car had disappeared to-
ward the west, no attempt having been
made by the highwaymen to disturb the
sleeping passengers.
Men were sent forward and soon To-
Gated the fireman Fastening back to
give the alarm, Engineer Helms hav-
ing gone on in search of his engine. He
found the locomotive on the rails with
the fire drawn from under the boiler
and the valves so arranged as to pre-
vent any accident because Of increas-
ing steam pressure.
News Is Delayed.
More than two hours elapsed from
the time of the robbery-about 2
o'clock-until the news could be sent
to division headquarters at Parkers-
burg and Grafton, the other nearest
town with Geographic communication
at that hour. but Immediately railroad
and county officers were active. Mes
sages were sent in all directions spe-
cial train carrying detectives was sent
to the scene of the robbery and posses
aggregating more than "a hundred men
were securing the country before day
break in Harrison, DOdrtdge and Pleas
ants counties
Engineer Helms said he could not give
a good description Of the men except
that they were fairly well dressed and
of locomotive.
Railroad authorities believe that the
men when they left the train hurried
| over the hills to road near Central
and fastened in the direction Of ST.
| Marys on the Ohio river between
Wheeling and Parkersburg.
The train Is one Of the best on the Bal
York yesterday morning at 10 O'Clock.
! Usually 1t carried large numbers Of
through passengers and important mail
| and express.
Amount Of Booty Unknown.
The amount of booty secured by the
robbery is unknown here, but 1t was
| stated that the registered mail usually
carried by the train was very valuable,
| and another report said that in the ex-
press car. which the robbers did not
take with them down the track. was
| 100000 in gold. The report could
not be traced to any reliable source.
] Central station is in Dodridge county.
| midway between Parkersburg and
| Clarksburg. w. Va 1t is stop for
| through trains on the Baltimore and
Ohio only for taking on water.
| Quickly Take Up Hunt.
| HARRISBURG. w. Va, October g.
Baltimore and Ohio railroad officials
here quickly took up the hunt when
| they were informed of the train rob-
berry at Central station. A searching
party has been sent from Clarksburg.