The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-07-23
A FlENDISH ACT.
A Train Thrown off the Track
and Robbed,
The Engineer Killed and Several
Persons Injured by the Robbers.

DEs MONIES, Iowa. July PAN extraordi-
nary ana daring robbery of railroad train
was committed last night four miles west of
Auah, on the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific
railroad. At this point there is sharp curve,
anu mere the robbers placed heavy t!mbers
across the track to throw the east bound pas
senger train off, The engineer, John Rafferty,,
saw the obstruction in time to reverse his en-
gine ana apply the brake. but the robbers OBJ
serving the movements fired at him from their
ambush and shot him dead. The engine struck
tne ioSs and went off into the ditch, followed
by one OF the baggage cars, the others remain
lug on the track, Several passengers were
pralseI out none seriously injured. The rob-
pels VINO were masked, after opening and emp
lying the safe of the express messenger of its
contents, rode off. Among the passengers were
Mass
CHICAGO, July pa despatch from Des
MONIES gives the following account of an at
TACK on a train of cars on the Rock Island &
racine railroad last night: The train left
0o 9 . Bluffs at o'clock with four coaches
anu Two sleeping cars in the rear, the sleeping
cars ca peing filled with company of aristocratic
Chinese on their way to the New England Col
le9es: There were also two baggage express
cars IN which there was through California
mai and express matter consisting of nearly
$zooo IN the express safe, and three tons of bull
non. About 65 miles west of this city, about
D 81 clock, at sharp curve on the road and
an isolated spot, with no houses for several
miles IN any direction, the train moving about
70 miles an hour, the engineer, John Rafferty,
suddenly saw one of the rails moved from its
place, about 60 feet ahead of the engine
he instantly reversed the engine and applied
the air brake and while in the act bullets came
peltlng into the engine like hail. The engine
ran into the bank and turned over, throwing
out the engineer and fireman, the former fall
ing on the latter dead. 1t is supposed that
RAFFERTY, was killed by the conclusion as no
bullet wounds were found on the body, The
fireman was unhurt.
The train being very heavy ran about 100
feet and stopped. The baggage cars dou bled
and and were badly smashed. AS soon as the
tain stopped large, athletic men in full Ku
klux style appeared at the express car in which
were the Conductor, VIM. Smith, Supernten-
dent Boyce, Express Messenger John Burgess
and three other persons, and commenced firing
rapidly into the car, yelling "Get out of there
damn you, get out Of there Two bullets
passed through the clothes of the conductor,
one grazed the skull of the baggage master,
and one the side of the head of the express
messenger. The inmates jumped out, when
they were ordered to the rear covered by half
dozen navy revolvers. Two of the robbers
marched up and down the train threatening to
shoot any person who showed their head on the
train, saying, get down 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 letters and mounted each on a horse and
rode off across the prairie in southerly direc-
ton, the whole being done in less than ten
minutes. They fortunately did not cut the
telegraph wires, and Supt. 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 Bur-
lington and other roads to intercept the robbers
in southerly direction.
Their dress and voices indicated that they
were regular bushwhackers. They evidently
intended to get the usual valuable express mat
Ter on this route on Mondays but which went
through on an extra train Sunday night. The
robbers during the day stole spike bar and
hammer from the hand car house at the sta
ton. They drew the spikes from one end of
the rail and secreted themselves several rods
away, and as the engine approached, pulled
the rail out of place. The piomptness Of the
engineer in reversing the engine and the use of
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 re-
sumed It's trip arriving here at 80 o'clock this
morning, bringing the dead body of the engi-
neer who resided here, and who leaves wife
and three children.