The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-07-31
TRAIN WREcKED AsD PLUsDERDB.
Daring Robbery BY Iowa BushEbaek-
ers-EngIneer Killed at His Post or
Duty-yIgoroHs Pursuit. OF the TlI-
lafus

Buty-yIgorous Pursuit. or the TII-
laIns.
DEs MONIES, Iowa, July 22.-An ex-
trsordinary and daring robbery of a
railroad train was committed last
night, four miles west Of Adair, on the
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail-
road. At this point there is a sharp
curve in the road, and here the rob
bers had placed heavy timbers across
the track, to throw the east bound pas
senger train off the track. The en-
gineer, John Rafferty,, saw the obstruc-
/ ton in time to reverse his engine and
I apply the air brake, but the robbers
observing the movement, fired at him
from an ambush and shot him dead.
The engine struck the logs and went
off the track into the ditch, and was
followed by one Of the baggage cars, the
others, with the passenger trains, re-
naming on the track. Several pas
sengers were bruised, but none serious
/ ly hurt. The robbers, who were mask
ed, after opening and emptying the
safe Of the express messenger of its
contents, rode off on horseback.
Among the passengers were thirty
Chinese students, en- route to Spring
field, Mass.
CHICAGO, July 22.-The Evening
Journals special from Des Moines to-
day gives the following account of the
attack on a train on the Chicago, Rock
Island q Pacific Railroad last night :
From Superintendent Royce, who
was on the train, we get the partieu-
lars OF the robbery ofthe night express
train on the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific Railroad last night. The train
left Council Bluffs at O'Clock, with
four coaches and two sleeping cans,
the rear car being filed with 8 COM
pany Of aristocratic Chinese, on their
way to New England colleges. There
were also two baggage and express
cars, in which was the through CAL
fornia mail and express matter, con-
sisting in short of near two thousand
dollars In the express safe, and three
tons of bullion.
When about slxty-five miles west
of this city, and about $50 D. M, at a
sharp curve on the road, and an isola-
ted spot, with no house within sever
al miles in any direction, the train
moving about twenty-five miles an
hour, the engineer, John Rafferty,,
suddenly saw one rail move from its
place about sixty feet ahead of the en-
gine. He instantly reversed his en-
gine and applied the air brake, and
while in the act of doing IL, bullets
came pelting into the engine like
hail.
The engine ran into the bank and
fIlrnQd fhHAurfnr.
neer, John Rafferty,, and the fireman.
The former falling on the latter
dead, 1t Is supposed he was killed by
the concussion, as no bullet wounds
are found on his body. The fireman
escaped unhurt. The train being
very heavy, ran about one hundred
feet and stopped. The engine ran up
into 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, masked I'm full
Ku-Klux style, appeared at the ex-
press car-in which were the conduct
or, William Smith, Superintendent
Royce, the express messenger. John
Burgess, and three other persons-and
commenced firing rapidly into the
car, yelling "Get out of there, d-n
ye! Get out of there!" Two bullets
passed through the clothes of the con-
ductor, 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 of
nail dozen navy revolvers. Two of
the robbers marched up and down
the train, threatening to shoot auv
peeson who showed their heads on
the train, saying, ''Get down ont of
sight, d-n yei or we will shoot you.u
The robbers then took about 50 600 |
from the express safe, cut open the |
mail sacks, but took no letters. and |
mounted each horse, and rode off |
across the prairie in southerly d. |
rectlon, the whole being done in less
than ten minutes. Fortunately they
did not cut the telegraph wires, and |
superintendent Royce at once hast
ened to the nearest station and tele-
graphed in all directions. Engines
and posse of men were sent out
from Council Bluffs on the Burlington |
and other roads to intercept the rob-
bers. Their dress and voices indicated
tnat tney were regular bushWhackers, |
and they evidently intended to get |
the usual valuable express matter bv
this route on Mondays, but which |
went through on an extra train on
Sunday night.
The robbers during the day stole a
spike bar and hammer from a hand |
car house at the nearest station. They |
drew the spikes from one end of the !
rail and fastened a small cord to it. |
and then secreted themselves several |
rods away. As the engine approached !
they pulled the rail out OF place, but !
the promptness OF the engineer and |
the air brakes saved the passengers
from harm, as pot one was injured.
A track was at once laid around the |
wrecked cars, and the train resumed |
its trip, arriving here at 7:30 this |
and bringing the dead body |
OF. the engineer, who resided here, and |
who leaves wife and three children.
The management of the Chicago, |
Rock Island d Pacific Railroad have
offered a reward OFFS, 900 for the detec-
ton of the Williams who attacked and |
robbed the train on that road near
dQir Tnua ioaf nfOhE