Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-07-31
RAILWAY PIRATES ii The WEST.
TIE Robbery Of the Rock Island Train
atofy Of ths co5lUc.2c.

The daring robbery Of the train or
the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
railroad. near Adrian, Iowa. Monday
night, by masked pirates, who succeed
! ed in throwing the locomotive from the
track, and then robbed the express car
Of 80, 900, intilnidatiAg the passengers
III the meanwhile, has created great ex-
element in that section Of country. A
thousand conjectpres are current in Des
MONIES, iowa, in regard to the persons
who robbed the train. The most proba-
Die one is that the robbery was commit
ted by pers, ns living near where the
robbery took place A valise, in which
they carried off the money taken from
the express company's safe, was found
FIVE miles south of the wrecked train
Vigilant parties are securing south
western Iowa, and it is confidently be-
lieved the robbers will be caught if they
remain within the State.
THE coNDUCToRs STORY.
William A. Smith, conductor Of the
| Inflated train, testified Oh Tuesday at
| the coroner's inquest on the body Of
| John Rafferty,, the engineer, who was
killed. that the train was wrecked two
| and half or three miles west Of Adrian
station, and six or seven hundred feet
east OF Turkey Greek bridge. He con
| tinHed: I was III the smoking-car, near
the front end, and from the noise l
| thought the engine was in a ditch, with
one or two cars piled upon it; was
thrown under the seat in front of me
do not remember which side.of the car.
/ got out on the bulk. | went forward
to see who was hurt; the first person |
met was one of the masked men near
the baggage car door, who pointed a
revolver in each hand toward me and
told ne to get back, firing one at the
same time; backed down as far IS the
sleeping coach hefore felt was .out
Of his way; there met Dennis Foley,
The fireman; he said Chilly, Jack is
uead"
The passengers were in hnbbub
and the women and children were cry
ing. I told the passengers that /
thought the masked men were trying
to rob the Luggage car, and tried to
borrow revolver but failed. could
still see the man from where | was.
Saw another passing up and down on
the opposite side Of the train. Think
he was firing at me also. Some OF the
passengers asked me TO get i'll the train
rs these men were firing at me and
would be the cause of some Of them
being killed. ! then went into the
81 coping car at the rear, still trying to
get revolver, and urging the passen-
gers to keep quiet, as these men were
robliEg the baggage car ] went out
of the ladies up 10 the bank and
thence to the engine. Two balls pass
ed through my clothing while was on
the bank. These shots came from the
south side Of the train. Did not see a
man on the north side then. Did not
see or hear anything more Of the
masked men.
After the passengers had got quiet l
| went forward to Investigate the cause
Of the wreck. AT the hind truck Of the
smoking car found the fish plate had
been removed from the rail on the
north side, disconnecting q rail at both
ends. A rope and strap were tied in
| the bolt holes of the disconnected rail
at the west end, and rope passed I'M
der the south rail across the ditch and
up on to the bank, A piece Of rope
was also found on the bank, which
seemed to have been broken from the
other It was new rope, the Gem
mon size; the west end was loose Of
the rail when ! saw it ; it was only