The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-07-29

a special d1Spatcn from Des hoihos gives
the following account of an attack on
railroad train:
The train left Council Bluffs at five
o'clock, with four coaches and two sleep
ers: the rear sleeper was filled with COM
pany of aristocratic Chinese, on their way to |
New England colleges; there were also two
baggage ears, on which was the through |
California mail and express matter, con-
sisting of near two thousand dollars in the
express safe, and three tons of bullion.
When about sixty-fye miles west of this
city about $50, at sharp curve in the
road and in an isolated spot, with no houses
within seven miles, the train moving at
about twenty-fv miles an hour, the engi-
neer, John Rafferty,, suddenly saw one rail
move from it's place, he instantly reversed
his engine, and applied the air brakes, and
while in the act of doing it, bullets came
pelting into the engine house like hail.
The engine was thrown off the track, and
turned over, throwing out the engineer
JOHN Rafferty, and the fireman and 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 three
baggage cars doubled up and were badly
smashed. AS soon as the train stopped,
six large, athletic men, masked in full Ku-
Klux style, appeared at the express car, in
which were Conductor William Smith,
Superintendent Boyce, the express mes
senger, John Burgess, and three other per-
sons, and commenced firing rapidly into
the car, yelling, "get out of there, damn
We, get off 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 messenger.
The inmates jumped out, when they
were ordered to the rear under cover of
half dozen navy revolvers- Two of the
threatening to shoot any person who show
ed their heads, saying, "get down out of
sight, damn you, or we will shoot you"
The robbers then took about two thou
sand dollars from the express safe, cut
open the mail Sacks but took no letters,
and mounted each a horse and rode of
across the prairie, in a southerly direction,
the whole being done in less than ten min
utes They very fortunately did not cut
the telegraph wires, and Superintendent
ot hac 10 t1a oto
tion and telegraphed in all directions
An engine and a posse of men were sent
out from Council Bluffs on the Burlington
and other roads to intercept the robbers
in a southerly direction. Their dresses
and voices indicated they were regular
bushwackers, and they evidently intended
to get the usual valuable express matter by
the 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 hand-caI
house, at the nearest station, drew the
spikes from an end of the rail, and fastened
a small cord to the end of the rail and
secreted themselves several rods away, and
as the engine approached, pulled the rail
out of place.
The promptness of the engineer and the
airbrakes saved the passenger from harm,
as not one was injured nor burt. A track
was at once laid around the wrecked car,
and the train resumed its trip, arriving
here at 7.30 this morning, bringing the
dead body of the engineer, who resided
here, and who leaves wife and three chill
dren.
Up to this time nothing entireiy reliable
in regard to tho pursuit and capture of the
railroad robbers has been received, though
they have crossed into Missouri, and are
making for the wilds of Mercer county in
that State. The total amount taken by
the robbers from the train is now known
to be $2,337.
The Young Rascal.
Frederick A. Showers, whose extensive
forgeries on his father in Philadelphia have
lbeen mentioned, did not confine his rascally
financial operations to that city. While in
iPittsburg some time before his arrest he
paid visit to friend Of his father and
produced letter Of introduction, in which
it was stated that any money given him
wOald meet with ready payment from his
father. The next day Showers called on
the gentleman again and presented au
$9006orged check, which the latter cashed