Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1885 — BOLD ROBBERY. [ARTICLE]

BOLD ROBBERY.

Four Men Intimidate and Rob the Passengers on a Pennsylvania Train. [Pittsburg dispa ten.] Altoona specials report a daring robbery on a passenger train on the branch of the Pennsylvania Road which connects Altoona with Hollidaysburg, the oonnty seat The line is only eight miles long, and the run is made in about thirty minutes, and the robbers were therefore compelled to do their work quickly. Ihe train, which was composed of the engine, combination baggage and passenger car, and the regular passenger coach, had proceeded but a short distance from Hollidaysburg when it was boarded by four hard-looking individuals, who wore handkerchiefs to conceal the lower half of their faces. The leader was distinguished by the fact that his nose was almost entirely eaten away by cancer. While his three companions, one at each end of the regular passenger-coach and another iu the center, with drawn revolvers, commanded the frightened male and fema'e passengers to keep their seats, the man without a nose took up the collection of money and valuables. The total value of money and jewelry taken is not yet ascertained, but will certainly amount to a big sum. The conductor, who was in the baggage apartment of the front coach counting his tickets, was unaware of the proceedings in the rear coach until informed by a passenger in the smoking compartment Hastening through to the rear car a fierce struggle ensued between him and one of the robbers. The former was the weaker, however, and he was laid on the broad of his back, while a cocked revolver iu close’proximity to his head prevented any further demonstration on his part. In the meanwhile the wholesale robbery was still in progress. Doling the struggle ihe conductor made an attempt to pull the bell-cord and notify the engineer, but the robbers had anticipated him and cut the rope. When the robbery in the second coach had been completed there was a hurried consultation of the four masked men over the prostrate form of the conductor, revolvers pointed in each coach preventing any demonstration on the part of the passengers who might have regained their lost courage. The train began to slacken its speed as it approached the next station, when suddenly the robbers leaped off and ran at full speed through the dense forest which surrounds the track on either side. Springing to his feet the conductor rushed through the train, dashed over ihe tender into the cab, aud ordered the astonished engineer to “pull the throttle wide open.” The order was at once complied with, and in a few minutes the train steamed at frightful speed into Altoona. Its unexpected arrival and the blanched faces of the trainmen aud passengers were the means of collecting a large ciowd. One passenger, who had evidently not given up his valuables without a struggle, exhibited a bloody hand, through which a kuife had been thrust. Parties to hunt the fugitives were at once organized. The railroad officials were notified, and special engines bearing several men each were sent back on the Hollidaysburg Branch, also both oast and west on the main line of the Pennsylvania Road. The excitement in this region is intense.