The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-25
&I6,457,221 u
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TIMoN.
Number of banks, "a.
Attacking q Traln-Furthcr Parttcu-
s;iars Of Oh Q Outrage on the Prairies-
Thieves aud their Plumber.

Thieves ansi their Plumber.
s DEsi MONIES, iowa, July pa thousand
coniectures are current here in regard to the
persons who robbed the train on the Rock
Island railroad last night. The most proba-
bic one is that the robbery was committed
by persons living near where the robbery
took place. A valise,i in which they carried
off the money taken from the express COM
pany's SAFE. was found Eve miles south or
the wrecked train to-day. Vigilant parties
are securing southwestern Iowa, and it is
confidently believed the robbers will be
caught if they remain within the State. A
telegram received here late tonight says
they crossed the Burlington aud Missouri
railroad last night at midnight.
. William A. Smith, conductor of the i'll.
fated train, testified to-day at the coroner's
inquest on the body Of John Rafferty,, the
engineer who was killed, that the train was
wrecked two and half or three miles west
of Adam station, and six or seven hundred
feet east of Turkey Creek bridge; was in the
smokng.car, near the front end, and from
the noise I thought the engine was in a
ditch, with one OF two cars piled upon it;
was thrown under the seat 10 front Of me;
do not remember which side Of the car; l
got out on the bulk; went forward to see
who was hurt; 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
fone and the same time; backed down as
ar as the sleeping-coach before felt | was
out of his way; there I met Denis Foley,
the fireman he says, .''Billy, Jack is dead"
The passengers were in hubbub, and the
women and children were crying. told
the passengers I thought the masked men
were trying to rob the baggage lear, and tried
to borrow revolver, but failed. could
still see the man from where was. Saw
another passing up and down on the oppo-
site side Of the train. Think he was firing
at me also. Some of the passengers asked
me to get into the train, as these men were
of them being killed. then went into the
sleeping-car, at the rear, still trying to get
revolver, and urging the passengers to
keep quiet, as these men were robblug the
baggage-car. went out of the ladies'.car
up to the bank and hence to the engine.
Two balls passed through my clothing
while was on the bank These shots came
from the south side Of the train. Did not
see a man on the north side of them. Did
not see or hear anything more OF the masked
men. After the passengers had got quiet l
went forward to investigate the cause of the
wreck. At the bind truck. OF the smoking
cur found the tish-plate had been,removed
from the rail on the north side, disconnect-
ing u rail at both ends. A rope and strap
were tied. In the beIt-holcs OF the dlscon-
nected rail at the west end, and q rope passed
under the south rail across the ditch and up
on to the bank. A piece Of rope was also
found on the bank which seemed to have
been broken from the other. It was new
rope, the common size the west end Was
loose of the rail when saw it; it was only
few inches from the south rail; The hind
trucks of the smoking car were still on the
track. We had been running eighteen or
twenty miles an hour.
The passengers on the train report that
the scene was terrible, and battles descrip-
ton. When The crash came oil were thrown
forward, some entirely out: Of their seats.
Then came recoil, and immediately after
they heard firing, but supposed that it came
from the wreck. Many of the men jumped
from the cars and started to get forward, and
were ordered back by the robbers, who con-
tinued their firing and enfol ced their COM
mands by terrible oaths and threats. Back
they went, and in the cars found women
and children half-crazed with fright, Shrek
ing, crying, and fainting, imploring men
to protect them, and cXclaiming: "My
God! We shall he killed! We shall
be killed |" The stouteSt hearts qlailed
and felt they were at the mercy of dcspera-
does. Altogether it was scheme unprece-
dented in the history of railroading in this
country, and never before has so reckless
and daring scheme been carried to compile
ton. All Western Iowa is in y fever Of cX-
element. Farmers for miles around are
leaving the harvest.felds with their families
and visiting the scene Of the robbery. The
engine and baggage-cars remain as they
we're last night. The former is badly
wrecked.
Superintendent Royce estimates the loss
sustained by the company at about three
Thousand dollars. Governor Carpenter is
sued 9 proclamation to-day Offering reward
of $500 for the arrest of each person engaged
in the robbery.