N&W in 1912--Stickup?

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
March 12, 1912

THRUST PISTOL INTO ENGINEER COWLING'S FACE
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Man Wild With Drink Climbs on Engine of Train No. 16--No Attempt at Robbery Made
    Engineer Cowling saved himself from perhaps fatal injury Sunday at Mohawk, when he grappled with J. E. Stephenson, who, wild with drink, had climbed upon the engine, which was standing at the watering station taking water, and after walking along the running board approached the window in the cab.  Engineer Cowling ordered the man off the engine, and for answer he thrust a blue steel automatic pistol through the window, and directly into Cowling's face.  Without stopping to answer questions, Engineer Cowling reached through the narrow window and grappled with the man, and at the same time seized the pistol.  Fortunately it did not explode and the man's position on the engine placed him under a sort of a disadvantage.  Fireman Sanders, hearing the trouble, climbed over and assisted the engineer and the man was overpowered and placed in charge of an officer who was on the train.  Both the fireman and the engineer are being warmly praised for their prompt action and display of nerve.
    Stephenson was turned over to the McDowell county authorities at Welch and yesterday was held for the grand jury on a charge of carrying a pistol.  It is understood he will also be charged with assault with a pistol when the next term of the grand jury meets.
    Yesterday Stephenson claimed he was so drunk he did not know what he was doing.  He said he had loaded up with liquor until he had no control over himself, and supposes that while he was in the condition he was overcome by an insane desire to climb over the engine because it seemed so impossible.  He is able to offer no other reason for his action, claiming that he has no remembrances of what he did.
    Stephenson has been employed by the Lathrop Coal Co., at Panther.
    When Train No. 16 reached here Sunday night passengers carried reports of an attempt to hold up the train.  The police, who have investigated the case, claim that there was no attempt of this kind, and are inclined to believe Stephenson's statement that he was so drunk he did not realize what he was doing.  They have been unable to find that anyone was connected with him.
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[Mohawk, WV, is about 28 miles west of Welch, and about 2 miles west of Panther.]

Gordon Hamilton
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