Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1883 — SHOT DOWS. [ARTICLE]

SHOT DOWS.

The Engineer of a Train Slain aCoolidge, Kan. His Assailants Being a Gang of Drunken Cowboys Intent on Bobbery. —— 1 »i 1 "" [Kansas City Telegram.] The most intense excitement prevails la express circles here over the attempted robbery of the regular east-bound express train on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway at Coolidge, Kan. The robbery was the work of three men, who-made an attack, upon the train just as it wa-i about to pull out from the station. Conductor Greeley bad called out “aU aboard,” when two rhea jumped upon the engine with drawn revolvers and ordered the engineer, John R. Hilton, to pull out. Instead of doing this he: reversed the engine, when one of the men shot him through the heart, killing him instantly. At the same time the second robber shot George Faddie, the fireman, through the back and he fell from the cabinto the gutter. At almost exactly the same time the third member of the gang jumped into the express car and fired point blank at & S. Patterson, express messenger for Wells, largo A Go., who was reclining partially asleep on a bed of blankets spread out upon bis safe.. Patterson, sprang to bis feet with a revolver in each hand and was again fired at by the robber, but luckily escaped unhurt and tired in return at bis antagonist, who was partiaßy concealed by some baggage, the express and baggage car being a joint fixture. The robber, seeing that the messenger was ready for him, jumped from the door, with Patterson inp-ius-.. suit, but escaped with his two companions from the engine, as by this time the conductor and train hands were taking a hand in the fusjlade, some fifteen or twenty shots being fired. It was so dark, however, that gobd marksmanship was impossible, and, for the time being, the robbers -escaped. The most intense excitement .prevailed among the passengers when the robbery became known throughout the train, and dispatches were sent to Las Animas, DodgeCity, and other points for assistance, while the dead engineer and fireman were taken into the sieeping-oar and properly cared for. A special train left Dodge City at once for the scene, with a posse of armed men under charge of the Marshal and at a late hour three men, Looney, Chambers and Dean, were captured,who proved to be the attempted train-robbers. They were taken to Dodge City by special train, under a heavy guard, and placed in jail In the express safe at the time of the attempted robbery was between $40,000 and $50,1.00, and but for the fight made by Patterson the robberswould probably have made a big haul, as before he drove the man from his car the men in the engine had things their own way. The plan of the robbers was that while two men captured the engine and made the engineer run the train the third man was to kill the messenger, then rifle the safe while the train was in motion, and then all three escape at once to s ame convenient place between Coolidge and Dodge City. Patterson, the express-messenger, makes the following statement: “You are of course aware that the raid.

took place at Coolidge, a station on the line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway, about ten miles east of the Colorado State Rue, between 2 and 3 o’clock this morning. There is an eating-house in the station, and the train stopped there as usual twenty minutes in order to give the passengers an opportunity to get lunch. The train, was No. 4 bound east. Conductor Greeley, Engineer John Hilton, Fireman Fuddle and Baggageman Johnson. When the train stopped I put off some railroad mail which. I had, and, there being no express to put off and no further work for me to do, I lay down on my box just in lruat of the side door, on tlie side of the car next to the depot At\er lying down for a few minutes--1 dropped off into a doze. I was lying on my back with my arms folded over my bosom. Both .of tlie doors on the side of thecar next to the platform were open, Baggageman Johnston being seated in the back side door looking out on the platform. My revolver, aColt’s 41-caliber, double action, lay at my side I ha l taken it out of my scabbaul qud la d its down that I might be ready for any emergency that might arise. The pistol lay where 1 could ehsllv lay handsupon it. It was about time for the train to start, when I heard the words: ‘Come out of ihere, you —!* This woke me up, and I afterward learned that the remark was made by Conductor Greely to a man whom he noticed getting intothe car. When I awoke I naturally glanced down the car, and I saw standing within four feet of me a man with a pistol in his hand. I was lving with my head toward the frent end of the car, and the man was standing pear my feet I did not say a word; in fact, I did not have time to speak before he covered me with the revolver and fired. The bullet went over my head and I could feel the fire burning over my face. The man then fired a shot out of the doorway at the conductor. Fortunately, I was completely self-pos-sessed, and when he fired I realized that a train-robbery was going on. With the hope of making the robber believe that he had killed me, i unclasped my hands, which were folded on my bosom, and allowed them to fall at my 6ide. My right hand fell on the muzzle of my revolver, and, realizing that it would never do to allow the robber to see that I was about to defend myself 1 had the pistol w ith myTiand on the trigger. The robber did not notice this maneuver, because it was quite dark in the part of the car where I lay. Meantime the man was working his way toward the rear’ of the car, evidently to kill the baggageman or anyone else who got in his way. As soon as I got hold of my pistol I sprang into a sitting posture and fired at the robber. I jumped up then and walked toward the man. He raised his revolver as if to shoot again, but it went off prematurely, tne bias BtrDaafs tne root of the car. When I shot at him a part of his body was behind a stove. 1 aimed at his abdomen, and I believe that my ball took effect About this lime I saw another man who pioved to be the ‘pal’ of the first trying to c'into in at the sida door. No sooner had I fired, however, than he disappeared, and the 1 man I shot at jumped out on the platform from the rear Bide door. That was the last I saw of the robbera I calculated that they ■would come up to the front side door, ana J seizing some "freight I barricaded the door, I so as to protect myself and property which 1 haa been intrusted to my care Less than half a minute after the robbors left my car - I heard some shots at the engine. Three shots were tired in half as many minutes. I stood at the front side door of my car, revolver in hand Just then Conductor Greeley came up. ‘Have they gone! 1 ’ I asked. ‘Yes, I think so ’ replied he, 'but I believe our engineer and fireman are hurt’ Then Greeley went forward to them, and coming back to me said: They are both kiHed The engineer is shot through the heart and the fireman through the neck.’ I then jumped, out on the plat;orm and saw the engineer lying on the platform alongside of the engine The fireman was still conscious, and was taken into the hotel, where I talked with him a few minutes. ” At Erie, Pa, Mr. George Watte placed in the hands of Lawyer Firch a copy of the notorious book, “Tne Memoirs of George IV. ,” of whieh it was supposed all copies extant had been destroyed, and for wlpch, some years since, the British Government offered SI,OOO per copy. Mr. Firch will negotiate its return to the English authorities for the present owner. John Allen. Captain of the schooner Ida Walker, was knocked overboard by a boom, near Oswego, N. Y., and his son sprang after Kim both being drowned Seven millions of money is represented in Helena stockmen.