Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-07-30
A barring Robbery in Iowa.

rear, the sleePers being filled with CON-
pany or arisiocraiic Chinese on their way
to New England colleges There were
also two baggage express cars IN which
was through California mail and express
matter, consisting os nearly $4,000, in the
express safe. aud three tons OF bullion.
About 65 miles wet Of Des noises, about
$50 o'clock, at a sharp curve on the
road. and on an isolated spot, with no
house for several miles in any direction
the train moved about % miles an hour.
the engineer, John Rafferty,, suddenly saw
cue rail moved frUm its place, about 90
feet ahead Of the engine. lie instaily re-
verscd the eugine, and applied the air
brake, and while in the act bullets came
pelting into the engine, like hail. The
engine ran into the bank and turned over,
throwing out the engineer aud fireman, the
former falling on the latter, dead. 1t Is
supposed that Rafferty, was killed by the
conclusion. The fireman was unhurt.
The train, being very heavy, ran about 100
feet and stopped the baggagc.cars doubl-
cd and we're smashed. As scon as thetrain
stopped, large atheletic men, masked in
full kuklux style, appeared at the express
car, in which we're the conductor, William
Smith, Superintendent Royce, Express
Messenger John Burgess and three other
persons, and commenced firing rapidly into
the car, yelling, Get out of there, damn
We, get out of there!" Tho inmates
Jumped out, when they were ordered to
the rear, being covered by half dozen
navy revolvers. Two Of the robbers
marched up and down the train, threaten
ing to shoot any persons who showed their
heads on the train, saying, "Get out OF
sight, damn ye, or We will shoot you !!
The robbers then took about $4,000 from
the express safe, cut open the mail-sacks
(but took no lettcrs) and mounted each a
horse and rode off across the prairie
in southerly direction, the whole being
done in less than ten minutes. They
Fortunately did not cut the telegraph wires,
and Superintendent Royce at once FASTENED
to the nearest station and telegraphed in
all directions.
Engines and posse Of men were sent
out from Council Bluffs to intercept the
robbers. Their dress and voices indicated
that they were regular bushwhackers.
They evidently intended to get the cx-
press matter that usually passes over this
route on Mondays, but which went through
on an extra train, Sunday. They drew
the spikes from one end Of the rail and
sccretcd themselves several rods away
and as the engine approached pulled the
rail out of the place. The promptness Of
the engineer in reversing the engine and
the use of the air brakes saved the pas.
sengcrs from harm, not one being injured
A track was at once laid around the
wrecked cars, and the train assumed the
trip, bringing the body of the engineer,
who leaves u wife and three children.
A thousand conjectures are current il
regard to the persons who robbed the
tram on the Rock Island Railroad. The
most probable one is that the robbery wa'
committed by persons living near where
the robbery took place. A valiso used tt
carry off tine money taken from the ex
press safe was found five miles south o.
the wrecked train. Vigilant parties are
securing Iowa, and it is evidently be
lieced that the robbers will he caught j
they remain within the State. A Telegram
says the robbers crossed the Burlington
and Missouri Railroad.
: William A. Smith, conductor of the i'll
fated train, testified went forward to Sc,
who was hurt The first person | met wa
| one of the masked men near the taggag
car door, who pointed revolver in eacl
hand and told me to 60 back, firing at tn
same time; the passengers were in hub
S bub, and the women and children CRYING
e tried to borrow revolver but failed
i could see man from whore / was, an
e saw another passing up and down on tn
opposite side of the train; some of the pal
i scngers asked me to get iuto the train
! as these men were firing at me and | woul
i be the cause of them being killed; the
] went into the sleeping car at the rea
y still trying to get Te7SiiY9ccr. and urgir
7 the passengers to'keep quiet; two bal
|. passed through my clothing while tryir
g to reach the engine; after the passenge
0 got quiet investigated the cause of Il
i. wreck at the hind truck of the smokir
e car | found the fshplate had been reno
it ed from the rail on the north side, di
e mounting the rail at both ends rol
$. and strap were tied in the bolt holes
i the disconnected rail at the west end, al
the rnnhs nassed accrnss the ditch and |