A TRAIN HOLD-UP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1930, 23 January 1919, Page 4

A TRAIN HOLD-UP.

STRUGGLE IN ENGINE CAB. DRIVER’S STARTLING STORY. Bathurst, Dee. 22. What is said to be the first attempt to hold up a train in Australia is alleged to have been made late on Saturday night near Bathurst. A young man, dressed, in American cowboy tashiun, heavily masked and armed with an automatic Mauser revolver, clamoured into the cab of the engine attached to the Eorbes-Sydney mail, and, pointing the weapon at the torehead of the driver, called upon him to stop the train. The mail left f’arkes on Saturday afternoon, at 5.35. It was timed to reach Bathurst shortly after midnight on Sunday morning. She was heavily laden with passengers. Nothing untoward occurred until Perthville, a small station about six miles from Bathurst, was reached. Here the train stopped for a couple of minutes, and it had only proceeded a few hundred yards on the journey to Bathurst when the driver, James Whelan, of Bathurst, who was on the look-out, I ell a sharp tug at his.coat. Turning his head, Whelan found himself looking into the muzzle of a revolver held by a masked man, who resembled, in Whelan’s own words to the police, “ a cowboy without the feathers.” Whelan was not perturbed, knowing that there were several of his railway males on the train travelling home to Bathurst. His first impression was that one of them had disguised himself and was having a joke with him and his fireman. Consequently he, turned away and continued his journey. Immediately he did so there was a second and more violent tug at his coat, which slewed him round. Then he realised that the intruder was no practical joker. The revolve] 1 was pushed right into his face until he could feel the cold steel on his .forehead, and the would-be highwayman shouted, “stop the train.’ Whelan's left hand shot out, grabbed the arm holding the revolver, whilst with the right hand he caught the man by the throat.

A desperate struggle then followed, with the train travelling at the rate of between 35 and 40 miles an hour. Both men are of powerful physique, hut Whelan proved the stronger of the two. Gradually he got a firm grip of the throat of his assailant, who affer a few minutes sank back exhausted. Meanwhile die fireman, George Gorrie, also of Bathurst, had rushed to the assist - aiiee of the driver, and the pair succeeded in securing the revolver, leaving the in I ruder panting ami apparently helpless on the (lour of the engine. The engine was by this I lime travelling at great speed, but Whelan rushed to the controls. The danger in which (he (rain was placed can he appreciated when it is realised that near the Perthville Methodist Church is a big curve, which has to be negotiated at greatly reduced speed. On this occasion however, the mail swept round the curve at a great speed, as at this point ike two men were engaged in their desperate struggle. By the lime Whelan had gained control of the engine the intruder had struggled to his feel and begun to back away and out of the doorway of the engine, Whelan grabbed him by (lie braces, whilst Gorrie succeeded in getting a grip on the black shirt be was wearing. However. both shirt and braces gave way, with the result that the alleged highwayman, after being suspended for a few seconds, fell headlong on lo the permanent way. The driver at once pulled Uie train up, proceeded back, and found I lie man lying on his abdomen, unconscious. He was placed in Ihe brakevan and brought lo Bathurst, where, after attention, he was arrested and conveyed to the Bathurst District Hospital, suffering from shock am! severe injuries to Ids arm and body. Ho gave his name as Wall'rcii Larsen, 24 years of nge, and refused to give any information regarding his movements during Saturday night. The police theory is that Larsen secreted himself on the sleps of the engine at Pjurthvillc .and as .soon as the train began lo move, clambered in. Yesterday Larsen became more communicative. It is understood Unit he slated that lie wauled money. He had no intention of shooting the driver, but only wanted to frighten him. His condition last night had improved considerably, and it is expected that he will bo brought before the Police Court within the course of a few days. Larson, when arrested, wore the remains of a dark shirt. A portiou of the left sleeve had been turn away, On the left hand he wore a, leather gauntlet, on the back of which was inscribed I.W.W. On the right, wrist he had a leather wrist; protector. He had a greenhide cartridge licit round his waist, to which was fixed a holster. Beside him was a black felt hat of the cowboy shape, and a Mauser automatic revolver, a business-like looking weapon of the magazine quick-firing type, made in Germany. It contained 12 cartridges.