Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-07-30

Operations Of . Party or Iowa hu-
Klux.

DEs MONIES, July 22-From Su,
perintendent Royce, who was on the
train, I get particulars Of the robbery
of the express train on the Chicago
Rock Island and Pacific Railroad last
night. The train left Council Bluffs
at 5 o'clock, with four coaches and
two sleepers, the rear sleeper being
flied with company of aristocratic
Chinese, on their way to New England
Colleges. There were also two bag
gage and express cars, in which was
the through California mail and ex-
press matter, consisting of $4,000 Ia
the express safe and three tons OF bull
lion.
| When about sixty Eve miles west of
this city, about $50 O'Clock, at sharp
curve in the road and an isolated spot,
with no house within several miles in
any direction, the train moving at
about twenty-five miles an hour, the
engineer John Rafferty,, suddenly saw
rail move from its place about sixty
feet ahead of the engine. He instant
ly reversed his engine and applied the
air brake, while in the act of doing it,
bullets came peltlng into his engine
like hail. The engine ran into the
bank and went over, throwing out the
engineer and fireman, the former fall
ling on the latter dead. 1t is sup
posed be was killed by the conclusion,
as no bullet wounds were found on his
body. The fireman escaped unhurt.
The train being very heavy ran about
hundred feet and stopped. The two
baggage cars were badly smashed. AS
soon as the train stopped six large ath-
letic men masked in full Ku Klux style
appeared at the express car, in which
were the conductor, VIM Smith, Su-
perintendeut Royce, the express mes.
senger, John Burgess, and three other
persons, commenced firing rapidly into
the car, yelling, "Get out out there
damn ye; get out Of there" Two
bullets passed through the clothes of
the conductor, one grazed the skull of
the baggageman and one the side of
the head of the express messenger. The
5 inmates jumped out when they were
ordered to the rear under cover of a
T half dozen navy revolvers. Two of
the robbers marched up and down the
train threatening to shoot any person
who showed his head on the train say
ing: SECT down out of sight, damn
ye, or we'll shoot ye." The robbers
then took about $4,000 from the ex-
press safe, cut open the mail bags, but
took no letters, and mounted horses and
rode off across the prairie in a south.
: erly direction, the whole being done in
less than ten minutes. They fortunate
lY did not cut the telegraph wires
and Superintendent Royce fastened
to the nearest station and telegraphed
in all directions. Engines and posses
of men were sent out on the Council
Bluffs, Burlington and other roads to
intercept the robbers in southerly
direction Their dresses and voice in
dicated that they were regular bush
whaekers, and they evidently intended
to get the usual valuable express mat
ter by this route on Mondays, but
which went through on an extra train
on Sunday night. The robbers dur
, ing the day stole spike bar and ham.
mer from hand car house at the
nearest station. They drew the spike.
from ane end Of the rail and fastened a
small cord to the end of the rail, and
seereted themselves several yards away
As the engine approached they pulled
the rail out of place, but the prompt
ness CT the engineer and 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 resumed its trip arriving here al
1870 this morning, bringing the dead
body of the engineer, who resided here
and who leaves a wife and three chill
dren.
The st. Louis Republican has spe-
tial from st. Joseph, Mo-, which says
, kilograms received there state that
part of the Iowa railroad train robbers
, crossed the Hannibal and St. Joe
Railroad few miles east Of Chilli
cothi, on Thursday with large party
of pursuers only three miles behind
them. The people in every section OF
country that could be reached by
telegraph have been advised, and the
roads in every direction are guarded
by bodies of men. Two of the robbers
are said to be notorious desperadoes
of Clay county, Mo. The dispatch
, further states that there never has
been such determined pursuit of vii.
lains as in this instance, and it seems
almost impossible for the robbers 10
escape. 1t is believed, however, that
they will not be taken without a
terrible conflict, as they we'll know
that capture means instant death.