100 years ago in the region: Bandits rob, shoot hobos riding the rails between Cle Elum and Ellensburg

From our archive, 100 years ago

Two “train thugs” took advantage of the many hobos riding the freight trains – and left two men shot and bleeding between Cle Elum and Ellensburg.

The two unidentified bandits worked their way through the freight cars, robbing and intimidating the men who were riding the rails.

In one freight car, they ordered a young man and an old man to “throw up their hands.” The young man took off running. He jumped onto the top of the freight car, but one of the thugs shot him and he tumbled off into the darkness.

Then the bandits beat the old man and robbed him of all of his money – $1.70. Then they went to another freight car and encountered another man, from North Yakima, who also resisted. They shot him in the chest, but he survived.

When the train pulled into Cle Elum, the old man got off the train and reported the affair. The sheriff immediately searched the tracks and found the wounded young man, who was taken to the hospital and was in serious condition. The other wounded man was treated and in good condition.

The sheriff searched the train and all of the other trains in the vicinity, but could not find the desperadoes. The sheriff believed they were still in the vicinity, and search parties were combing the area.