Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-07-16
Attenpted Express robbery.
Attack ON a railroad Train-Bold attempt
press Recommendations of the Robbers.

Attack ON railroad Iratn-BOld attemp
Murder of an engineer-A Plucky EN
press Messenger-Faiiure OF the Robbers
A very daring attempt to rob the ex
press occurred in Indiana, Thursday
night of last week. The place where
the robbery was attempted was Long
Point, Ill, on the Vandalia, Terre HautC
and indianapolis railroad, It's situated
in the middle Of dense wood, no per
son living within mile and half o.
the station 1t has always been consid
cred the most dangerous point on the
route and express messengers have been
instructed to close their doors while
passing it. An attack was made ON a
freight train at that place, last Winter,
and all the men were driven into the
caboose' until they could recover them
selves. Two or three days later five
men jumped on the platform of the ex-
press car when the train stopped but
was drived off Several times lately the
engineers have seen suspicious looking
persons lurking in that vicinity at night
and in consequence have not stopped
their trains to take water. Thursday
night at midnight, when passenger train
No. bound east, Conductor Fraien
and Engineer Milo Ames in charge,
stopped at the water tank, two men
boarded the engine, one from each side,
and ordered the engineer to start the en-
CINE. The engineer after few moments
hesitation, obeyed the order. After the
starting of the train, one of the robbers
remarked; eve will run the thing
ourselves" and Immediately both rob-
bers fired at the engineer killing him
instantly. The fireman, who was stand
ing upon the tender ran to the rear of
the train to alarm the train men, he
having heard the conversation and com
pretending the situation at once While
this was taking place on the engine, a
confederate of the robbers had detached
the Adams express car from the cars in
the rear. The whole party of robbers
then run the train to point about two
miles from the station, where they stop
ped and preceding to the door of the
express car demanded admittance. The
express messenger. Mr.. Burke, told them
he was ready for them, and that if they
entered they would be dead men, The
robbers then commenced firing into the
car, and the messenger says it seemed to
him that there was dozen Of them, as
the shots came from all sides. The
conductor and train men seeing the pos
itions of affairs set about to pursue the
robbers but could find only one revolt
yer on the train. They however, dis
covered two soldiers armed with carbines,
and with these weapons the trainmen
and soldiers started after the robbers.
When they came up to the train all was
quiet, the robbers having fled. They
found the dead body of the engineer on
the floor of the cab A freight train
engineer, named Jack Vandergrift, hap
pened to be on the train, and he and
the fireman ran the engine back to the
train and brought it in. The robbers
failed to gain an entrance to the express
car, it being one of the kind, having no
windows, and very strong in every way.
Had they detached the American ex-
press car which was Immediately in the
rear of the Adams express car, they might
have accomplished their purpose, as it is
an open car, having windows and doors,
and not very strong.
The finding of hammer. used to
knock out the coupling pin, may serve
as a clew to the murderer The train
men speak in very high terms of the
pluck aud courage displayed by Express
Messenger Burke. There is intense feel.
inn among railroad men over the tragi-
cal death of Engineer Ames, and should
his murderers be caught it is very gener-
ally believed that their prosecution
would not cost the State anything. Sew
eral suspected persons are already in
custody and there is reason to hope that
all the robbers will be caught. The
railroad company offer $1,000 reward
for their apprehension, and the governor
Of Illinois will undoubtedly offer an adj
ditional reward. The murdered engi-
neer, Milo Ames, was formerly a resi-
dent Of Washington, Berkshire county
Mass, where he was well known. His
untimely death is greatly lamented by
those who know him.