Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-07-30


a DartmS Ossfr0Ees
Capturc Of = Railroad Train by Robbers
the Eiprcss Company's safc Rihed--
One Person Killed.
CHICAGO, July GA special dis
patch from Dos Moines gives the fol-
lowing account of an attack on o
train on tho Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific railroad last night Tho
train loft Council Bluffs at five o'clock
with four coaches and two sleepers In
tho rear, tho slcepers being filled with
a company Of aristocratic Chinese on
their way 70 the New England COL
lege. There were also two baggage
cars, in which was tho through Cali
fornia mail and express matter con.
sisling Of nearly $1,000 in the express
safe and three tons Of bullion. When
about sixty-fve miles west Of Des-
Moines, about half past eight p. m. at o
sharp curve In tho road and In an iso-
lated spot, with no house tor several
miles in any direction, the train NOV.
ing at about twenty-five miles an hour,
tho engineer, John Rafferty,, suddenly
saw one rail moved from its place
about sixty feot ahead of the engine.
He instantly reversed the engine and
applied the air brake. While in the
act the bullets came peltiDg into the
engine like hail. The engine ran into
tho bank, turning over and throwing
out tho engineer and the fireman, the
former falling dead. 1t is supposed
Rafferty, was killed by the concussion,
as no bullet wounds were found on
his body. The fireman escaped un-
hurt. The train being very heavy
ran about hundred feet and stopped.
Tho baggage cars doubled and were
badly smashed. ll iH
A soon as the train stopped several
large, athletic men, masked in full ku-
klux style, appeared at the express
car, in which were Conductor William
Smith, Superintendent Royce, Express
Messenger John Burgess, and three
other persons, and commenced firing
rapidly into the car, yelling "Get out
Of there, damn ye, got out Of there"
Two bullets passed through tho clothes
of the conductor, one grazed the skull
of q baggage man and tho side Of the
head OF an express messenger. The
inmates jumped out to the rear under
the cover Of half dozen navy revol-
vers. lf uFol.n NN
Two of the robbers marched up and
down the train, eatening TO shoot
any person who showed his head, say
ing, acct down out of sight, d----n
ye, or we will shoot you" The rob
bers then took about $4,000 from tho
express safe and cut open the mail
sacks, but took no letters, mounted
their horses and rode off across the
pinirie in q southerly direction, the
whole being done in less than ten
minutes. lle
Thoy fortunately did not cut the
telegraph wires, and Superintendent
Royce at once hastenod to tho nearest
station and telegraphed in all direc-
tions. Engines ard posse of men
were sent out from Council Bluffs on
the Burlington and other roads to in
teroept the robbers. Their dress and
voices indicated that they were rcgu
lar bushwhackers. They evidently
intended TO get the usual valuable ex-
press matter sent by this route on
Monday, but which went through on
an extra train Sunday night nv
The robbers, during the day, stole
spike bar and hammer from hand
car house at the station. They drew
two spikes from one end of rail,
secreted themselves several rods away,
and as the engine approached pulled
tho rail out Of place. The promptness
Of The engineer in reversing the en-
gine, and the use of tho air brakes
avoided the passengers from being in
jured. l a Ha1
The track was at once laid around
the wrecked cars, and the train re-
sumed its trip, arriving hero at half
past seven this morning, bringing the
dead body of the engineer, who resided
here and who leaves q wife and three
children. getoJ
Sr. Louis, July 25.-The police of
this city, from facts which have come
to their knowledge, believe that the
robbers of the Iowa railroad train are
the same gang that robbed the bank
Of st. Genevieve, Missouri, last May,
and tho Russelsville, Ky, bank two
years ago, and the Gait Bank, this
State, and committed several bold rob-
berries. Their rendezvous is said to
be in jackson county, Mo, and that
their homes are scattered around in
that and Clay and Lafayette and Ray
counties. Some Of their names are
J esse and Frank james, Bill Shepard,
Cole Young, and Mccoy. Their fami-
lies arc said 10 cultivate small farms
in the counties named, and their homes
are surrounded by their own relatives
and friends, who would not themselves
commit a crime, but would shield these
desperadoes to the last. asgoro
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