Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-08-01

A MOST DARING OUTRAGE.

On Tuesday of last week, very dar-
ing attempt was made to demolish and
rob railroad train in Iowa, which
event has created much excitement.
A train left Council Bluffs Oh the ODD
inst, with four coaches and two sleeping
cars, filled with company Of aristocrat-
ic Chinese on their way to the New Eng
land colleges. The express cars attach
ed contained three tons of bullion and
$4,000 in money. When the train reach
ed sharp curve in an isolated spot,
moving at speed of about twenty
miles an hour, the engineer suddenly
saw one of the rails move from its place,
about sixty feet ahead of the engine.
He instantly reversed the engine and APP
piled the air brake, and while in the act
bullets came pelting about him like hail.
The train ran from the track into a
bank, and the engineer was killed. AS
soon as the train stopped gang of
masked men came out of the brush, and
fired volley into an express car, in
which were the conductor, messenger
and number of others. The inmates
jumped out, when they we're ordered to
the rear covered by half dozen revolv-
ers. The robbers then took possession
of the money in the safe, ransacked the
mail, and then disappeared. They evil
IDENTIFY intended to get the valuable ex-
press matter supposed to be on the train,
but which had been forwarded the day
previous.
During the day the robbers drew the
spikes which secured the rail, and at
taching line hid themselves several
rods away. When the train appeared
the rail was pulled from its place. and
only the prompt action Of the engineer,
who was killed at his post, saved the
passengers from harm.
Never before has so reckless and dar-
ing a scheme been carried into execu-
sion, and it of course occasioned the
most intense commotion. The country
is being secured in every direction for
the purpose of detecting the scoundrels
and bring them to justice.
THE CONDUCTORS STATEMENT.
William A. Smith the conductor of
the Inflated train, testified that be went
forward to see who was hurt The first
person he met was one of the masked
men, near the baggage car door, who
presented revolver in each hand, and
told him to get back, firing at the same
time. The passengers were in confusion
and the women and children were cry
ing. He tried to borrow revolver, but
failed. He could see man from where
he was, and saw another passing up and
down on the opposite side of the train.
Some of the passengers asked him to get
in the train, as these men were firing at
him, and he would be the cause of some
Of them being killed He then went in
to the sleeping car at the rear, still try
ing to get revolver, and urging the
passengers to keep quiet. Two balls
passed through his clothing while trying
to reach the engine. After the passen-
gers got quiet, he investigated the cause
of the wreck. At the hind truck of the
smoking car he found fsh-plate had
been removed from the rail on the north
side, disconnecting the rail at both ends.
A rope ard strap were tied in the bolt
holes of the disconnected rail at the west
end, and the rope passed across the ditch
and up on the bank.
The passengers on the train report a
terrible scene, which battles description.
When the crash came, all were thrown
forward, and some entirely out of their
seats. Then came recoil, and imme-
diately after they heard the firing, but
supposed it came from the wreck. Many
men jumped from the cars and started
to get forward, but we're ordered back
by the robbers, who continued their fir
ing and enforced their commands by ter
rible oaths and threats. Back they
went and in the cars they found the
women and children half crazed with
fright, shrieking and crying and faint
ing, imploring the men to protect then
and exclaiming, My God, we shall b.
killed we shall be killed. The stout
est hearts quailed and felt that the,
were at the mercy of the desperadoes
Altogether it was a scene unprecedented
in the history of railroading in thi
country, for never before had SO rockies
and daring scheme been carried int
Gull piebiOu. AL W6Sb6Tu IOWd Is Ill
, fever of excitement. The farmers fo
, miles around are leaving the harvest
fields with their families and visiting tn
scenes of the robbery. The engine an,
baggage cars remain as they were Tues
day night, the former being badl
e wrecked. Superintendent Royce estims
ted the loss of the company at abou
$4,000. Governor Carpenter has issue,
proclamation, offering a reward o
: $500 for the arrest of each person Ell
e gagged in the robbery. The Rock ISLAM
E railroad company offer a reward G
$4,000 for the detection of the partie
, who robbed the train.
DETAILS BY AN EYEWITNESS.
Mr.. o. p. Killingsworth, an agent @
the postcofiice department, who was O
i duty ON the train which was throw
: from the track and robbed in Iowa, las
n Monday night, gives some interestin
details of the outrage. He says the e5
press messenger told him before the az
II cident that he had the smallest amour
n in his safe he had carried for month
It although, to be sure, there were thrt
, tons bullion-gold and silver bricks-o
the floor of the car, stuff that was hare
ly portable except by dray. At th
J. time of the stoppage the parties in tt
V express-car were Assistant Superinteni