The Van Buren press., 1874-02-10
GADSHILL ROBBERY.
The Hot Spring Stage Robbers go
through a Railroad Train
Little Rock Gazette of tho Sd.

In Sundays paper we had bare men
ton Of the telegrayhic report Of the rob-
berry of the southern bound mail and ex-
press train on the Cairo and Fulton rail
road, at Gadshill, in Mo. The report was
confirmed by passengers who arrived
here Sunday morning, and who were on
the train at the time.
Gadshill is flag station, in Wayne Co.
Mo. on the Iron Mountain extension.
Piedmont, seven miles distant, is the
nearest telegraph station from that point.
AS the train approached the station the
engineer noticed a man waving a rcd flag
on the track. some distance ahead. While
wondering what this could mean the train
suddenly went off on a side track, and tne
switch, both in rear and front was sud-
denly turned thus lockn the train in. An
attpmpt TO move forward or back would
have thrown the train from the track.
! When the train stopped, Conducted Al
/ ford, who was in charge, Jumped on TO
( see what Was the matter. AS he did so
/ he was seized, as were the engineer and
fremen, and marched of to sort OF
guard house, where all the women and
children that could be gathered up were
being guarded by some OF the members
of the band The captain Of the gang
then stood on the platform, with gun and
pistol, and directed his men, five IN num.
bcr, how to proceed They first entered
the mail and express car, and took charge
of the express packages and registered
letters They then proceeded to go
through the passengers of each car, three
in number, taking all the money, watches
and jewelry to be found, except those ar
ticles belonging to working men or
southern people, who they stated they
did not desire to rob. They obtained
about 81, 900 from the express messen-
ger, Mr.. Wilson; 1000 in registered
letter sent to the Arkadelphia bank, and
various amounts from the passengers,
among others the following
I'd. Henry of Coldwater, Min, Sl54,
25; Silas Ferry, Hornelsville, N Y. $51 I;
A. j. Merrman, Des Arc, Ark, $T5; G..
L. Dart, Peru, Ind, $50; Mrs. Scott and
son, Pittsburg. Penn, Sl00; John +,
Lincoln, Genl Supt, Of the St Paul and
Sioux City railroad, 1850, c. II. Afford
conductor Of the train, $40; o. S. New
ell, St. Louis, $40; w. A McClarren a
conductor on the Memphis and Louisville
Road, Sl5, he also bad diamond breast
pin, valued sl60 and a fngcr.ring worth
$50, l.. Constant baggage master, So !;
James Johnston, porter Of sleeping car
So; James Butler news agent, Sll.
The kept the train about half hour
A gentleman living near this place who
was on the train, reports the matter thus :
On arriving at the station he looked out
of the window and saw several men
standing on the platform. Thinking
nothing specially of the matter, soon the
car was entered by five masked men,
heavily armed, who went to each passen-
ger in turn, inquired who he was and
where he was from. Coming to Mr. Lin
coin, he told them his name. They told
him he ought to be killed for bearing
such name, but were content with talk
ing all he had Coming to gentleman
from New England they asked: : "And
where are you from'
New England" was the response.
"Ah, ha! You're the chap we're look
ing for. Shell out, here. Shell out" !
pointing pistol at his breast. And he
shellcd out.
Our informant was next lie told them
he was a workingmau and lived at Little
Rock They told him they did not desire
to disturb him, and passed on. Thus they
went through the train.
From what we can learn, they are a
band Of Misscurians--the leader being
named Greenwood with two men named
Younger, and another Mccoy, and the
remainder their followers The princi
pals were members of Quantrelrs band.
/ They are the same who have committed
| Gll the bold and daring robberies during
! the last year or so in the south west, and
arc q very daring gang.
| Had these men attacked the train at al
most any other time--especially going
north--they would have made a big haul
sure enough. Frequently the express
company has as much IS $4,000 on one
train. Among others who were on the
train ut the time was Col. j, II. Morley,
chief engineer of the Cairo and Fulton
Railroad.
---------> . - -