Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-10
RAILROAD HIGHWAYMEN.
Daring Attempt to Rob a Train
The Engineer Killed at His Post.
BadIed by the Bravery OF the Express
MESSENGER.

Il
| Messenger.
TERRA HAUTE, July 9.-Long Point, a
/ station on the Vandalia Railroad three
miles west of Casey, H., is a place where
| all trains on that read us ally stop for
water. It is a lonesome place, situated in
woods, with no one living within mile
and half of it. 1t has long been cOnsid-
cred by the railroad men as a dangerous
place. Several times lately the engineers
have seen suspicious persons lurking about
there at night, and have run by without
stopping for water, last night at midnight,
as train No. 5, east bOnnd, cOndUc-
tor Fraley and Engineer Milo Ames,
came up to Long Point for water, two men
boarded the locomotive, one from each side,
and said to the engineer "pull out" The
engineer was at first somewhat beWlldered,
when they said again ''pull out" when he,
seeming to comprehend the situation, said,
sail right, I'll pull out" The men then
said we will run it ourselves, and at that
both the robbers fired. One Of the shots
killed the engineer instantly; the other
lodged in the cab. The fireman who was
on The tank taking in water Immediately
jumped and ran to the rear of the train
to notify the train men, having heard
the conversation and cOmpreheDding
the situation. During these proceedings
1t the engine, a confederate had detached
the Adams Express car, and they then,
pulling the engine wide open, ran her
about two mics east and slipped the blow
ing off brakes, 10 deceive the express mes
senger. They then came to the door of the
car and said, "Let me in, Jack" He re-
piled 10 them, "You sons of bitches, Pm
ready for you. If you ever come in here
you are dead men," The rob
bers then commenced firing into the
car. The messenger, Burke, said it
seemed to him there were
dozen of them, as the shots seemed to come
from all directions. The conductor and
train men. afterthe shots were fired, saw the
situation of affairs, and at once set about to
pursue them. They could only find ono
revolver on the train, but found two sol
diers on the train who were armed with
carbines. With these weapons the train
men and two soldiers started in pursuit Of
the train and robbers, but when they came
up to the train all was quiet, the robbers
having fed. They found the engineer
in the bottom of his cab, cold
and stiff. There CHANGED to be a freight
engineer, Jack Nandergrift, on the train,
and he with the fireman Immediately ran
the engine back to the train and brought It
in. The robbers failed 10 gain any en-
trance whatever into the express car, il
being one of the close kind, having no
windows and very strong every way. Had
they detached the American express car |
also, which was Immediately in the rear OF |
the Adams, they would undoubtedly have |
accomplished their object, as it was an |
open car having windows, the doors |
not being very strong. They found |
the hammer by which the cOupling-pin |
was knocked out, and which may hereafter /
serve as a clue to the discovery Of the per /
petratOrs of this outrage. The train men
speak in very fiattering terms of the pluck /
and bravery displayed by the express mes
senger, Burke, under the trying clrcum-
stances in which he was placed. There is
intense feeling among the railroad men
over the tragical death Of engineer Ames,
and should the perpetrators be caught it
is very generally believed that
il will not cost the State
anything to prosecute them. Engineer
Anes was one Of the best engineers on the
road, about IS years old, and had been
married bat a short time. The robbers who
boarded the locomotive wore long linen
busters. Conductor Fraley, and all the |
train men in fact, did all they could under
the circumstances. Several suspicious per-
sons are already under arrest, and every
effort will be made by the railroad COM
pany TO bring the robbers TO Justice. They
have, it is understood, offered a reward Of
81 900. These particulars have been E4.iF-
cred from one Of the train men who Wa a
witness of the whole affair.
ST. LOUIS, July "a good deal OF Ill
formation has been received regarding the
murder Of engineer Eames and the attempt
ed ROBBERY Of the Vandalia railroad train at
Long Point last night, but the main facts
Of the affair are covered BY the account
from Terre Haute. This morning Maj.
general superintendent of the
Vandalia road, received a dispatch
stating that three men had been arrested,
one Of whom was known to have been en-
gagged in the murder. The Vandalia Com
pany offered a reward Of $1,000 for each
I,>r connected with the affair. The City
1l@nnciI o;s Casey offered $50 reward, and
his sum is expected 70 be largely increased
BY county and Stale authOns,2' Eus, ,
Eames was a native of Washington, Mass
where he has a brother. Another brother
IS a conductor on the Missouri Pacific road,