The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-14
The Attemn,et En-, >,ess Robbery.

HOW NE FOOLED THE VII. sSs' :

now. he FoILEp THE Y L. Ns' -
A clegram from Columbus, OS.>' 20 TIT
Ct6innati Gazette gives "a brief acca. INTRO
an interview with James Burke, the ex2,te's
messenger " ho baffied the intending robbtfs
Oh the railroad train at Longpoint, Ind, on
Thursday night. The correspondent says:
The place where the train stopped for
water is deserted and gloomy, nor is there
any house in the neighDorhood. Burke
bad long suspected that some such at.
tempt as this would be made, and
thought Longpoint was likely to be the
place, consequently he was on the lookout.
and the moment he heard the shots fred that
killed the engineer. Milo Ames, he closed the
doors Of the express car, and looked and
bolled them. Then he barricaded them with
his packages, behind which be intended 10 de-
| iend himself also, if the affair came TO close
quarters. Immediately after he closed the
| door tho robbers detached the locomotive
and express car from the rest Of the train.
| and started the engine on a fast run. One OF
the robbers must have been an experienced
engineer, as Burke heard the whistle blown
and the signal for down-brakes given. This,
he thinks, was intended 10 make him believe
that the train was running all right as usual,
and 50 induce him when it stopped
TO open the cardoor. The brakes were
applied, aud the engine stopped alb
ruplly after running two miles. Then came
4 low tap on the door, and voice outside,
as il that of friend, whispered Jim, let me
in, quick; but Jim couldn't see it, and call.
ed out to the intruder TO leave the door or
he would blow his brains out, and that he
would certainly kill the first man that show
ed his head. The robbers then changed
their tactics, and told Burke If be would
open the door they wouldn't hurt him, but
if he resisted they would certainly Kill him.
Burke, not caring TO reveal bis position in
the car, uttered not q word. They then with
crowbar and sledge-bammer, obtained from
the locomotive, tried TO break through the
doors, and finally commenced firing through
them both at the side and rear. Burke
thought ii best to show them that he. too,
could play at that game, and he also fired Il
couple OF shots through The doors. This. land
the unprecedented comlng.up OF men from the
train, frightened the robbers away. When
the train came up Burke was not certain who
they were, aud kept bis doors closely bolted
until the locomotive and eXpresscar had
been run clear back TO Longpoint. Then the
number aud sound of the voices convinced
him that all was right, and he cautiously
pecped cut. Burke is quite young looking
man, although be says he has been in the en-
poy of the Adams Company for about six
teen years, and has been on the run
between here and ST. Louis for
four years. He is of sandy complexion and
sandy hair, is only medium-sized, and
has pleasant expression OF countenance
but locks, too, as if he would, with little
proyocaticn, as soon fight az not. The Anne.
ricau Express Company bad no special car
attached to the tain, but they had messen.
ger with goods and packages in baggage
car, OF which fact the robbers were probably
not aware. Ames, the engineer, was at first
ordered by the bandits 10 pull out with the
locomotive and express car, and commenced
to comply; busit suddenly struck the scoun-
drels that if Ames went out with the locomo-
tive they would when they stopped have
both him and Burke TO contend with, con-
sequcntly they shot him down and then en-
ginecred the locomotive themselves. His
body did not fall off the engine, and it was
touud lying therein, cold and stiff, when the
locomotive and express car were brought
back TO the rest Of the train. There were at
least five of the robbers, and perhaps more"