The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-10-12
attempt to have him identified by the
crew of the robbed Olympian.

Night Operator c. D. Lapham was
also one to have narrow escape from
death He was also fired at at close
| range by the desperate gunmen. The
| revolver in the hands of the gunman
was snapped in his face and the cart
ridge failed to explode. Officer Doerr
was fired at point blank by gunman
who stood in the open door of box
car while the officer stood on the
the gang made their escape across
country while others remained on the
train.
In the first reports from Portage Of
the probable appearance here OF the
bandits, Operator Lapnam was advised
that the caboose of train had been
looted near New Lisbon. They evil
IDENTIFY proceeded to Portage on the
same train and in the latter city they
foiled the two officers of which men
ton has previously been made. Evi-
IDENTIFY they came from Portage to Wa
tertoWn The officers were not far
enough west and all started to walk
in that direction when the train came
to a stop. officer Weis and Operator
Lapham had not proceeded far when
they met a man who really submitted
10 a search and proved to be Portage
resident of harmless character. Lap
ham went few steps ahead and met
/ man who was walking east, the fell
.ow answering questions in a surly
manner. When a good opportunity
presented itself, Lapham covered"
che the fellow and ordered him to
throw up his hands, which he prompt
Iy did. However, the stranger had a
gun and it came on level with Lap
nam's face and the weapon was snap
ped The fact of an empty or defec
i've cartridge saved the life of the op
orator. The second snap of the trig
ger brought a flash and a report, but
fortunately Lapman was missed, prob
ably due to the fact that the fellow
was on the run, startled by a report
from officer Weis' gun. The fellow
made good his escape, but it is the be-
lief that he is none other than the
fellow who was picked up at John
son Creek
About the same time, Officers Doerr
md Bruegger were having an encoun-
.er with a couple of the gunmen, the
latter having been discovered in an
9oxcar. One OF the desperadoes had
| position in one of the doors Of the
ear with his feet hanging out, holding
| coat over one arm. 1t seems that he
lad gun concealed in the coat, fir
.ng at the officer. Mr.. DOerr stepped
% one side and returned the fire. Mr.
Ooerr was in such close range of one
Of the shots that powder marks on his
ace still bear evidence of the decid-
3dly close call
The officers watched the car till the
rain pulled out at 1890 o'clock and
III several occasions exchanged vol
eys of shots with the gun men. The
rainmen were evidently not anxious
o mix in the gun play for they kept
close to their caboose all the time the
rain was here. In fact the engine
vas uncoupled and held near the de-
Railway detectives have been MAX
ng every possible effort to round up
he gang, but up to the present time
here has been no success with the
exception of the man Murray who was
gathered in at Johnson Creek, and
Who claims that he is just an ordi-
lary specimen of hobo. However, it
nay prove that when thorough inves-
igation is made, that he is more than
le pretends to be.
The Portage Democrat gives the fol-
owing version of the recent escapede
If the desperadoes:
When the east bound Olympian No
Is pulled into Portage at 500 Monday
morning the observation car appeared
is though it had gone through the
ront of European battlefields, for
here were bullet holes through
lumber of the windows.
The train had ben held up on Sun
lay night on the H. e d. division be-
ween Minneapolis and Milbank, S. D.,
iust after leaving Glencoe, Mimi, and
sengers two masked men got away
With about $500 in money besides sew
aral diamonds, the women on the train
)eing unmolested.
The robbers went through the car
n real Younger Bros. style and when
| number of passengers in the obser-
alton cars objected the bold men of
he West fired several Shots The
'obbers left the train at the Hennepin
:treet station and the last seen they
we're travelling toward Minneapolis.
A ST. Paul dispatch gives this ac-
:ount of the happening:
Wearing long raincoats and hats
pulled low over faces concealed by
| landkerchiefs the robbers entered the
| observation car about ten miles east
| of Glencoe, subdued Conductor W. F.
| Mcclure of Minneapolis by firing two
| warning shots over his head and then
| sorced him to collect money from the
passengers.
The robbers were forced to limit
| their activities to the rear coach by
| The prompt action of Brakeman John
Murphy of Minneapolis, who locked
the door OF the adjoining car
| Passengers thronging the steps and
windows of the other coaches fred a
| eusillade at the robbers as they left
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