Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-11-16
AN ASTOUNDING ROBBERY.

Three Men Stcalr Knilrond Passenger
Train at Union liiy--Thcy take 1t u
Mile, Ovrrpo>vrran Exprcss Mcsscn-
Err, anst Ride his :iafc.
From tho Memphis Avalanche, Oct. "a.
The robbery of express messengers
has long been regarded as one Of the
finer branches of tEicving. Usually
one or more masked mon suddenly ap-
pear in the car, and with cooked pistol
ivrIru at The mead Of the messenger,
rifle his safe and then jump from tho
train. An instance Of this kind, with
slight exceptions, occurred on the Mo-
bllo and Ohio Railroad last Saturday
evening" The train going north ut
that time stops ut the Union City for
supper. AS another train usually
passes down mt the same time, the
passenger train is
BACKED DOWN TIE ROAD
u short ui,tnnc" and run ON switch.
Saturday night tho train arrived on
time and was duly switched, after which
both engineer and fireman repaired to
the eating house for their supper.
Since tho l.to robbery Of tho express
car at Moscow, only II few miles from
Union City, tho cxprcsSmcn ON this
road have been doubled, two lncn re-
mailiu,; with each car. One Of tho
men is the regular messenger, while
| the other is merely a guard. At Union
Clty that evening the regular messen-
ger went to his supper, ;na left the
guard to watch tho car. In this way
there WAS ut tho time really but one
man about tho train.
PASSENGER TRAIN STOLEN.
After finishing their suppers tho en-
ginccr and tircmcn lighted their cigars
and started for the train. To their
great surprise they discovered that it
was ut least II mite down tho road.
Starting on a rapid run they soon ar
rived there, and upon examination
! found everything about the engine all
right. knowing that guard had been
Left in tho express car they went
/ back to question him i'll reference to
the strange proceeding. The guard
was found sitting almost specchless
with terror in ono corner Of his car,
while his safes were open and the con-
tents strcwn over tho floor. When
asked what was tho matter he finally
managed to make IL statement to the
following effect: Soon after all had left
tho train for supper, and whilst he
was
EATING A COLD LUNCH,
he noticed the train start Oft, backing
| down from tho station. Before he could
even arise to ascertain the cause, two
men entered the car and with drawn
pistols demanded his keys. Thinking
more of his life than the property Gu
trusted to his care, and being likewise
nearly frightened to death ho hastily
complied with the brusque demand.
With Il cooked pistol, the muzzlo Of
which was but fow inches from his
ear,
THE GUARD SAT VERY STILL,
while ono Of tho men rummagel tho
safe. After running II short distance
the train gradually .lackenod, and tho
guard heard II rough, gruff voice com
ing from the engine, which wanted to
know if they were not about through.
As they wero, tho engneer pro tenn,
was so Informed, and after telling tho
guard that they would kill him if he
moved, tho two mon took their depart
IRE, carrying with them all the money
that had been 1.-THE safes. Three men
were all the guard thought were cou-
nccted with the affair Ho said he
would have gwen All alarm, but he was
afraid the men would kill him.
EXTENT OF THE LOSS.
The amount taken from tho safo was
between 81 800 aud $4,000, principally
in small packages. There seems to be
u regular, organized band of robbers in
that portion OF tho country similar to
the Rcno thieves, Of Seymour, Indiana,
fame. Hunting them down, convict
ing and hanging them would have a
! GOOD effect.