The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-23
Bushwhackers Overthrow and Rob
q Train on the Prairie.
Timely Action of the Engineer,
: Who Is Killed.
THE THIEVES AND THEIR PLUMBER.
Arrival Of the Train at
Chicago.

CHICASO. July 90 1873.
special despatcttfrom Des Moines to-day gives
the following ACCOUNT OF me attack on the train Of
the Chicago; Rock Island and Pacific Railroad last
night The train left Council Blufs at i've O'Clock
with four coaches and two seepers In the rear, the
sleepers being filed with company OF aristocratic
Chinese on their way to.the New England colleges.
There were also two baggage express cars, in
which was the through California mail and
express matter, consisting, In snort, Of nearly
two thousand dollars in the express safe and three
tons OF bullion. When about SIX ty-fve miles west
OF this city, about halfpast eight O'Clock ut .
sharp curve ON the road and an isolated spot
with no house for several miles In any direction,
the train moving at about twenty-five mAss On
hour, the engineer, John RAFFERTY,. suddenly
SAW ONE RAIL MOVED
from its place about sixty feet ahead Of the engine
He instantly reversed the engine and applied the
air brake, and while in the act bullets came pet-
ing into the engine like hail. The engine ran into
the bank and turned over throwing out the engi-.
neer John Rafferty,. and the nremany the former
falling on the latter dead 1t is supposed Rafferty,
was killed by the concusston, as no bullet wounds
were found on his body. The fireman escaped ,
unhurt. The train, being very heavy, ran about
one hundred feet and stopped; the baggage cars
doubled and were badly smashed. AS soon as the
train stopped large. athletic men, masked In full
Ku Klux style, appeared at the express car, in
which were the conductor, william Smith, Super
intendent Royce. the express messenger, John Bur
CESS. and three other persons, and commenced
dring rapidly into the car, yelling
''GRT OUT OF THERE, DAMN YKl
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 inmates jumped out
when they were ordered, to the rear, covered by
half q dozen navy revovers. Two OF the robbers
marched up and down the train threatening to
shoot any person who showed their heads on the
train, saying "Get down out OF sight, damn yei or
we will shoot you" The robbers then took about
two thousand dollars from the express safe. cut
open the mail sacks (but took no letters) and
mounted each o horse and. rode on across the
prairie in o southery direction, the who.e being
done in less than ten minutes. They fortunately
did not cut the telegraph wires, and Superin-
tendent Royce at once fastened to the nearest
station and telegraphed in all directions. En-
gtnes and posse OF men were sent out from
Council Blufs, on the Burlington and other roads,
to intercept the robbers. in southerly direction.
Their dress and voices indicated
THEY WERE REGULAR BUsHwHACKERs.
They evidently intended to get the usual valu-
able express matter by this route on Mondays,
but which went through on an extra train on Sun
day night. The robbers during the day stole
spike bar and hammer from the handcar house at
the station. 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 promptness of the engineer in recovering
his engine and the use Of the air brakes saved the
passengers from harm, as not one passenger was
injured. track was at once laid around the
wrecked cars and the train resumed its trip
irving here at 80 this morning, bringing the dead
body OF the engineer, who resided here and who
leaves wife and three children.
Reward OF $1,000 offered for tho
Robbers.
CHICAGO, Ill, July %, 1873
The management OF the Chicago, Rock Island and
Pacific Railroad have offered reward Of IS. 900 for
the detection Of the parties who attacked and
robbed the train on that road near Adsir, Iowa,
last night.