Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-09
BY TELEGRAPH.
The Attempted Express Robbery.


CINCINNATI, July GA dispatch to the
superintendent of Adams Express Company
states that desperate attempt to rob express
messenger Burke, was made at Long Point,
ILL.,, on the Vandulla railroad last night. The
engine and car were cut loose and the engineer
killed. Burke barrcaded the doors, and kept
the robbers at bay until help arrived.
TERRE HAUTE July 9.-Long Point, ILL.,, on
the Vardaa r .ilroad. where the attempted
express robbery occurred, is situated in the
middle of dense wood, no person living with
u a mile and half Of the station. Last night,
midnight when the passenger train, No. s.
bound east, conductor Fralcy and engineer
Miles Amcs 10 charge, stopped at the water
tank, two men boarded the engine. one from
each side, and ordered the engineer to Start
the engine. The engineer, after few moments
hesitation obeyed the order. After the start
ing of the train one of the robbers remarked,
1--WE will run the thing ourselves" aud imme-
diately both robbers fired at the cugncer. killing
him instantly. The fireman, who was standing
upon the tender, ran to the rear of the train to
alarm the train men, he having heard the con
versation, and comprchcnied the situation at
once. while this was king place on th" en-.
CINE a confederate of the robbers had detached
the Adams Express car from the cars in the
rear. The whole party of robbers then ran
the train to point about two miles truru the
station, where they stopped, and proceeding to
the door OF the express car, demanded ad-
mttance, aud the express messenger, Mr..
Burke, told them he was ready for them and
that it they entered they would be dead men,
The robbers then commenced firing Int 0 the car,
aud the messenger says 1t seemed u him that
there were a dozen OF thcuI, as their shots cane
from all sides The conductor aud train men
seeing the position OF affairs set about to pursue
the robbers, but could fluid only one revolver on
hctraln. They, however, discovered Two soldiers
armed with carbiues and with these weapons
the train men and soldiers started after
the robbers. When they camc up to the train
all was quiet, the robbers having fed. They
found the dead body Of the engineer on the
floor of the cab. \ freight tram engineer
named Jack Nandergrlit happened to tc OH
the train, aud he and the fireman ran the en-
CINE back TO the train and brought il in The
GobCerS failed 10 gain an entrance to the cX-
press car, II being one Of the close kid. hay
ing no windows and very strong IN every
Way. Had they detached the American cX-
press car, which vas Immediately in the rear
of the Adams Express car, they might have
aeIon pisheu thCil Putn'Si, as IL Is IN open
Car, having windows aul doors, and not very
strong The fndirg of a hammer. used to
knock out the coupling pin, may serve, posi-
bly,, as a clue to the nlurdercrS. The train men
speak 10 very high terms Of the pluck and cour-
age displayed by express messenger Burke
There is intense feeling among he railroad men
over the traglcll death OF Engineer Amcs, and
should his murdercrs be caught, il is very gen
orally believed, that their prosecution would
not cost the State anything. Several SUSPECT
cd persons are already in custody, and there Is
reason to hope that all the robbers will hc
caught. The railroad company offer $1,000 re-
ward for their apprehension.