The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-31

Safe-Aecounts by Conductor and Pas
sengers.
CHICAGO, JULY 22.- An Eoeaing
Journals special from Des Moines to-
day gives the following account of an
attack on a train on the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Railroad last night /:
The train left Council Bluffs at o'clock
with four coaches and two sleepers,
the forward sleeper being filled with
a company of aristocratic Chinese on
their way to Springfield, Mass, to
college. There were also. three bag
gage cars, in which was the through
California mail and express matter,
consistioBg of nearly $1,000 in the
express safe, and three tons of bullion
When 65 miles west of this city, about
8 80, at sharp curve in the road and
an isolated spot, with no house within
several miles in any direction, the
train moving about 25 miles an hour,
the engineer, john Rafferty,, suddenly
saw one rail move from its place about
60 feet ahead of the engine. He in
stantly reversed the engine and ap-
piled the air brakes, and while he was
doing it bullets came pelting against
the engine like hail. The engine ran
up to the bank and turned over,
throwing out the engineer and fireman
the former falling on the latter dead.
It is supposed he was killed by the
conclusion, as no bullet wounds are
found on his body. The fireman es-
capped nnhurt. The train being very
heavy, ran about hundred feet and
stopped. Tne engine ran off and over
the bank and turned over and the two
baggage cars doubled up and were
badly smashed. As soon as the train
stopped, six large athletic men, mask
ed in full KuKIux style, appeared at
the express car, at which were the
conductor, VIM. Smith, Superintend-
ent Royce, the express messenger,
John Burgess, and three other per-
sons, and commenced firing rapidly
into the car, yelling, "get out of there
d-n We; get out OF there" Two
bullets passed through the clothes of
the conductor, one grazed the skull of
the baggage man, and one the side of
the head of the express messenger.
The inmates jumped out, when they
were ordered to the rear under cover
ofa half doven navy revolVers. Two
of the robbers marched up and down
the track, threatening to shoot any
persons who showed their head on the
train, saying: "Get down out of sight
d-n We, or we will shoot ye." The
robbers then took about 1000 from
the express safe, cut open the mail
sacks, but took no letters, and mount
ed each horse and rode off across
the prairie in a southerly direction,
the whole being done in less than ten
minutes. They fortunately did not
cut the telegraph wire, and Superin-
tendent Royce at once fastened to the
nearest station and telegraphed in all
directions. Engines and posse of
men were sent out from Council
Bluffs on the Burlington and other
roads to intercept the robbers in
southerly direction. Their dresses
and voices Indicated that they were
regular ushwhackers,. and they evil
IDENTIFY aimed to get the usually Valu-
able express matter bythis route on
Monday, but which went throught on
an extra train on Sunday night, if..sss
The robbers during the day stole
spike bar and hammer from hand
car house at the nearest station. They
drew the spikes from one end of the
rail and fastened a small cord to the
end of the rail and secreted them
selves several rods away, aud as the
engine approached, pulled the rall out
of the place. The promptness of the
engineer and the air brakes saved the
passengers from harm, as not one was
injured. A track was at once laid
around the wrecked cars, and the
train resumed its trip, arriving here
at Z 80 this morning, bringing the
dead body of the engineer, who resi-
ded here, and who leaves wife and
three children.
The management of the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific Railroad have
offered a rewsrd of 5000 for the de-
lection of the Williams who attacked
the train on that road near Adair,
Iowa, last night.
VIM. A. Smith, conductor of the
ill-fated train, testified to-day, at the
coroner's inquest on the bodyof John
Rafferty,, the engineer, who was killed
that the train was wrecked two and
a-half or three miles west of Adair
station. / was in the smoking car
near the front end, and from the noise
the engine was in the ditch
with one or two cars piled upon it.
was thrown under the seat III front
of me-; don't remember which side of
the car got out on, but know that l
the engine on the north side.
[ went forward to see who was hurt,
and the first person | met was one of
the masked men near the baggage car
door, who pointed revolver in each
hand toward me and told me to get
back, firing at me at the same time.
[ backed down as far as the sleeping
hofapa T fol- hof L.
way. There l met Dennis Foley the
fireman. He said, "BiHy, Jack is dead"
The passengers were in hubub. and
women and children were crying.
told the passengers that thought the
men were trying to rob the
baggage car, and tried to borrow a
,eyolyer, but failed. I could still see
] man from where 7 was. and saw an
other passing up and down on the op-
Dosite side of the train. / think he
was firing at me, Some of the pas
sengers asked me to get into the train
IS these men were firing at me and l
would be the means of some of them
getting killed. l then went into the
sleeping car, at the rear, still trying
% get revolver, urging the passen-
gers to keep quiet as the men were
'obbing the baggage car. | went out
IF the ladies' car, up the bank, and
hence to the engine. Two balls
passed through my clothing while l |
vas on the bank. These shots came |
rom the south side of the train. l |
lid not see man on the north side |
hen. ! did not see or hear any more |
If the masked men. After the pas
engers had got quiet, went forward |
o investigate the cause of the wreck. |
Passengers on. the train report that
he scene was terrible and battles des-
ription. When the crash came, all |
we're thrown forward, some entirely |
If their seats then came the recoil, |
nd Immediately after they heard |
iring, but supposed that it came from |
he wreck, Many of the men jumped /
rom the cars and started to 90 for
ward and were ordered back by the !
who continued firing and en-
orced their commands by terrific
'aths and threats. Back they went