New-York tribune., 1873-07-23


TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
DEs MONIES July 22.-Fron Superintendent
Royce who on the train, get particulars OF tho
robbery of tho night express train on the Chicago
Rock Island and Pacific Railroad last night. The
train left Council Bluffs at o'clock with four
coaches two sleeping cars, and two baggage and
express cars. In the sleeping car a number
of Chinese students on their way to New-England
colleges The baggage and express cars contained
the through California mall express packages worth
$1,000 and three tons of bullion.
At about $50 the train, which was moving at the
rate of about 20 miles an hour reached point 65
miles west Of this city entirely isolated. no house
being within several miles of the place. Here, at
sharp corner the engineer, John Rafferty,, "a " ono
rail move from its place about 90 feet ahead OF tho
engine. He instantly reversed the engine and ap-
piled the air-brake and while doing 50 bullets eamo
pelting into the engng like hail The engine ran INTO
the bank and turned over throwing out the engineer
John Rafferty, and the fireman, the former falling
on the latter dead It is supposed he was killed by
conclusion, no bullet wounds are found ON DIS
body. The fireman escaped unhuTt The train
ran about 100 feet and stopped; the two baggage
cars doubled up aud 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 the conductor, VIM. Smith
Superintendent Royce. the express messenger, John
Burgess and three other persons, and began firing
rapidly into the car, yelling, Get out of there
voul Get out Of there ~ Three bullets passed
through the clothes of the conductor one the
skull of the baggageman, and one the side OF tho
head of the express messenger. The inmates Jumped
out, when they were ordered to the rear un-
der cover of half dozen navy rcyolyers.
Two of the robbers marched up and down the tram
threatening TO shoot any person Who showed their
head on the train saying Get down out Of sight
We OF we will shoot you" The robbers then took
about 1000 FROM the express SAFE cut open the mai
packs, but took no letters, and mounted each
horse and rode off the prairie in sOutherly
direction, the whole being done in less than ten
minutes. The fortunately did not cut the
telegraph wires, and Superintendent Royce hasterei
at once to the nearest station, and teleaphcd in all
directions Engines and several men were sent out
from Council Bluffs on the Burlington and other
roads to intercept the robbers IN a sontherly
direction The dresses and voices of the robbers III
dicated they were regular bushwhackcrs, and they
evidently intended to get the usual valuable express
matter by this route Oh Mondays tram, Dut
which went through on an extra tram
on Sunday night. During the day the
robbers stole a spike, bar, and hammer
from hand-car house at the nearest
station: then they drew the spike from one end OF
the rail, fastened small cord to it and seereted
themselves several rods away. AS the engine ap-
preached they pulled the rail out OF place and tno
promptness of the engineer in using the air-brakes
alone saved the passengers from harm, not one Oh
whom was injured. track was at once laid
around the wrecked cars and the train resumed It's
trip arriving here at 1880 this morning bringing tho
dead body of the engineer, who resided here' ana
who leaves a wife and three children.
The latest news from the railroad robbery last
night is that a large body Of men is in close pursuit
of the robbers, and that they are fleeing south
through Montgomery County, with but little chance
of escape, the whole country having been Informed
of the affair They can be identified by farmers
from near the scene Of the robbery, where they
stopped on Saturday and Sunday. The railroad
company offers a reward of 5000 for their capture.
The damage done the wrecked train amounts to
$780,
TRACES OF THE ROBBERS DIscOYERED-TIiE CON-
DUCToRs EVIDENCE
DEsMoINEs, Iowa. July ga thousand con-
lectures are in regard TO the persons who
robbed the train on Rock Island Railroad last night
The most probable is that the robbery was commit
ted by persons living where the robbery
took place. valise in which they carried OH
money taken from the express compaDy's safe
was found five miles south Of the wrecked
train to-day. Vgilant parties are securing South
"a,
will be caught IL they remain within the State tele-
gram received here late tonight says they crossed the
Burlington and Missouri Railroad last night at mid
night VIM A. Smith, conductor OF the lllfated train
testified to-day at the coroners inquest on the body OF
John Rafferty,, the engineer who was killed. that the
train was wrecked q miles west Of Adam station.
and COO or 700 feet east of Turkey Creek Bridge Ho
said:
was in the smoking the front end; from the
noise OUght the engine was IN dltch, WIN one or
front OF me don't remember which side OF the car;
got on the bulk; went forward to see VINO was
hurt the first person met was one OF the lnskcu meh
near the baggage car door VINO pointed rV3Sr a ~ ~
each hand toward me- and tod me 70 set oaoS n'k & s
sleeping coach before felt out OF his wayi there
"a dead ;: the passengers were IN hubbub, aud the
men and children crying; told the passengers
the baggage car, and tried to borrow r.
yoyer hut failed could still see the man from whero
was saw another passing up ana down Od the oio-
site side of the train think he was ntilS at me aiso
Of the passengers asked me % Sl ne & se e..i
these men we're hrlng AT me ana Wou'u oo 'i 80 H.
OF some OF them being killed. then went lNto lho
seeplngcar at tAe rear, Sill trying to get Ieyoi-
YER and urging the passengers TO lcep qu!et,
as as these men were roDbing the baggage ear
l went out of the ladies' ear no e 10 me
bank and henceo the engine two balls passel through
my clothing while was on the BANK these SHOTS came
from the south side OF the train dld not see man on
north side them did not see OF hear any thnS more
OF the masked alter the passengers mad got quiet
Of TSe' the wreck; at the hind track of tho
smoking ear | found tho hsh plate had
inc rail az both ends rope and strap were tied IN
the bolt holes of the disconnected rail az the west end
and zone passed under the south rail the ditch
and up ON to bank piece OF rope also found
the bank which seemed to have been broken from the
other; 10 "a rope, the common size the west
end was loose OF the ril when saw 1t II WAS only
few inches from the south rail the hind truck OF the
smoking car still the track;
had been running ls or 20 miles an hour.
The passengers the train report that the was
terrible and battles description. when the crash came
all were thrown forward some entirely out OF their