Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-12-12
DARING TRAIN ROBBERY.
The Baggageman and Expressman
Bound and Gagged by Masked Men,
$4,000 or 81 5000 Stolen.

The Baggageman and Expressman
Bound and Gagged by Masked Men,
$4,000 or $4,000 Stolen.
No inconsiderable amount of excite
ment prevailed in this city, says the
Toronto MatL, in consequence of o
rumor prevailing that gigantic rob-
berry had been perpetratsd on the train
of the Great Western railway, which
arrives in the city from Hamilton at 7
o'clock.
From the best information 6btainable
it appears that the American Express
car attached to the train which leaves
Hamilton at $50 p. NJ. WAS made the
scene of one of the most daring rob-
berries on record. The train in dues-
tion arrived at Port Credit at the usual
hour, viz. within minute of $50, and
having stopped there to land passen-
gers and baggage, stated for this city.
This train does not stop at the Mimico
station, but proceeds straight to
Toronto, and it appears that immedi-
ate1y after the cars had begun to more,
after leaving the former place, gang
of three men, with full masks conceal
ing their features, and smocks thrown
over their ordinary clothes, entered the
baggage car. The baggage-man was
engaged in removing some trunks,
when the three men In question laid
hold of him, and having thrown him
down by main force, they handcuffed
him. This manacled condition of the
man not, apparently, being considered
satisfactory, so far as danger to the
robbers was concerned, they proceeded
to tie their prisoner to his baggage, and
then threatened his life if he tried to
give any alarm. The marauders, having
made one prisoner, passed through the
partition into the car of the expressman,
and by this time the gang had been re-
inforced by two additional men, also
disguised in masks and smocks. This
small army of robbers having entered
the express compartment, saw the ex.
pressman sitting by the stove engaged
in looking through some documents.
AS the official looked, ne observed five
strange men, and that they were armed
with revolvers and bowie-knives. Re-
sistance was sosn rendered useless, for
two of the robbers presented pistols ct
the head of the official, while third
held bowie knife to his throat, offer
ing to use it if any struggle were made.
The expressman was then thrown down,
bound, and gagged, and his pockets
rided in order to find the key of the
safe, which it was intended to rob.
The whole of the five men then turned
their attention to ransacking the safe,
from which they took valuables te the
amount of from $12,0 to $4,000, ac-
cording to the lowest estimate, and
much greater sum according to other
acco unts. The property stolen con-
sisted of bills, gold, etc. The masked
villains, however, we're most dainty in
their selection, for cash-box, containing
between $50 and $50 in silver, was left
behind, it probably being thought too
heavy to be conveniently carried. The
expressman, for greater security, had
been tied to the stove. The handouts
used to secure him were of the most ap-
proved description, and he had to wear
the same until he was subsequently re-
lieved at the express Office. 1t may be
thought strange that no one on the
train, excepting the two men who were
fettered and bound, should have known
anything of this gigantic depreciation
but the surprise will cease when it is
remembered that the compartments
where the officials were employed were
insulated from the other parts of the
train, the post-office dividing them from
the engine, there being no communica-
ton at the end next the passenger cars.
Moreover, the noise made by the engine
would prevent any cries from being
heard !; and thus the train arrived at the
Queens Wharf with several hundred
persons in the rear of the Car, little
knowing that robbery, almost
romantic in its incidents, had been per-
petrated within few feet of them.
On arriving at the wharf it is the GUS
tom for this train to stop for the pur.
pose of certain railway correspondence
being delivered by the expressman to
persons who are waiting to receive it.
The train made It's accustomed halt,
and man was waiting ready to take
the correspondence usually delivered,
but the expressman, of course, did not
put in an appearance. The consequence
was that the express car was entered,
when the uncomfortable state of things
became apparent. The safe was found
unlocked, and the door open, and the
whole contents in confusion. The two
railway servants were discovered in
their respective compartments. Both
men, in addition to being handcuffsd
and bound, had been covered over with
coats, cushions, and rugs. 1t appears,
as above stated, that the train left Port
Credit at 6:29 P. NJ, arriving at the
Queens Wharf at 6:55 P. NJ, thus al
lowing only twenty-six minutes in
which to complete the robbery. When
the latter place was reached the masked
individuals had disappeared, or at least
had assumed new role, perchance be-
ing among those who declaimed most
heartily against the wrongs perpetrated.
Be this as it may, they had not been
satisfactorily heard of when we went to
press, but it is to be hoped that ere
long the whole gang may fall into the
hands of the officers of the law.