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/• • • '• •*.*« ' , • \ • • * , •Saturday, September 9, 1944.H**|Dear.......................... _.j; A falniiiar figure 011 the Medicine Ilat-Lcthbridge run, C.P.R. conductor Samuel E. .“Sam” Jones, concluded some 45-years'service with the Canadian Pacific Railway as he stepped off-the Lethbridge train last Thursday noon. Wreathed in smiles, but with a half-wistful look in his eyes, he accepted the congratulations of the many friends who had gathered at the station to meet him. He said he was happy about his retirement, and that he and Mrs. Jones would continue to live in PJedieine Hat. “We plan to visit our daughter at the coast,” he said, “but we’re coming back. Southern Alberta is our home, and we have many friends whom we want to be able to sec and visit once in a while.” 'Recalling some of the highlights of his 45 years as a “railroader,” Mr. [Jones admitted that the famous Bassoff holdup was the most exciting and ticklish experience of his long career. . Musing on the incident, he recalled tjhai it happened on August 2, 1920, on the run. from Cardston to Cranbrook. ’yje had noticed three strange men get on the train at Lethbridge, and found ' put later that they had bought tickets to the Crow’s Nest. After leaving Coleman he missed them, and after looking through the train went to the baggage cat There he saw one of the three in the toilet with a gun in his hand. Before having time to do anything about it, a second one, Tom Bassoff, brushed past him, and climbed on the roof of the baggage car. The third man then entered and ordered all'to put up their hands. He remembered well reaching to pull the cord, and having one of them fire a shot at him which “luckily missed.” They went through the train and collected some $300. from the male passengers. The women were not molested and no mall or. express was taken. The trio jumped the train at Sentinel arid made their getaway. , One of the three, Arloff, was eventually shot in a battle with R.C.M.P. officials, the second, Akroff, was captufeU at Biitte, Montana, a year latcV, and Bassoff was caught on August 12. Bassoff was tried and found guilty of murder and executed in the Lothbridgq jail in,1921. One of Sam Jones’ three sous, F/O Roy Jones, was killed in action overseas during the present war, and another is with the R.CiA.F. stationed in Ottawa.VVQRD HAS BEEN RECEIVED by Mi*. J, MacKinnon that his son, Ptc.
Newspaper Details
Medicine Hat Daily News
Medicine Hat, Alberta, CA
Sat, Sep 09, 1944
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 26 May 2019
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