Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-07-09
Attempt to Rob the Express
at Long Point, ILL.,, on the
Vandalia Railroad.
The Engineer Killed and the Elk.
press Car Detached.
The Plucky Messenger Successfully
Defends his Car.

TERRA HAuTE, IND, July 9-LonI
Point, a station on the Vaudalia rail
road, three miles west Of Casey, ILL.,, is
place where all trains on that road us
ually stop for water, 1t is a lonesom,
place, situated in the woods, with not on,
living within q mile and a half Of it
1t has long been considered by the rail
road men as a dangerous place. Sever
al times lately the engineers have seer
suspicious persons lurking about ther,
at night, and have run by without stoI
ping for water. Last night, as train No
5, east bound, conductor Fraley anG
engineer Miles Ames, came up to Ions
Point for water, two men boarded the 10
connective, one from each side, and said
to the engineer to pull out" The en-
gineer was at first somewhat bewildered
when they said again, pull out" when
he seeming to comprehend the situation
said, all right, I'll pull out" The men
then said, I'VE will run the thing our.
selves and at that both of the robbers
fired; one of the shots killed the engi
neer 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
tie train men, having heard the conver
sation and cemprehending the situation.
During these proceedings at the engine
a confederate had detached the Adams
express car, and they then pulling the
engine wide open, ran her about two
miles east and stopped, blowing of
brakes to deceive the Express messen-
ger. They then came to the door Of the
car and said, "let me in, Jack" He re.
piled to them, you Pm ready for
you. If you ever come in here, you are
dead. The robbers then commenced
firing into the car. The messenger, Burke,
said it seemed to him that there was a
dozenof them as the shots seemedt to come
from all directions. The conductor and
train men after the shots we're fred saw
the situation Of affairs and at once set
about to pursue them. They could only
find one revolver on the train, but
found two soldiers 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 o freight engineer,
Jack Vandergrift, on the train, and he,
with the foreman, Immediately al the
engine back to the train and brought it
in. The robbers failed to gain any en-.
trance whatever into the Express car, it
being one of the close kind, having no
windows and very strong every way.
Had they detached the American Elk.
press car also, which was Immediately
in the rear Of the Adams, they would
undoubtedly have accomplished their OBJ
ject, as II was an open car, having win
dows end the doors not boing very
strong. They found the hammer by
which the coupling pin was removed,
which may hereafter serve as a clue to
the discovery Of the perpetrators Of this
outrage. The train men spoke in very
aatteriDg terms Of the pluck and bravery
displayed by Express messenger Burke
under the trying circumstances in which
he was placed.
There is intense feeling among rail.
road men over the tragical death Of en-
gineer Ames, and should the perpetra.
tors be caught, it is very generally be.
lieved that it will not cost the State any.
thing to prosecute them. Engineer
Ames was one Of the best engineers on
the read, about thirty-ive years old, and
had been married but a short time.
The robbers who boarded the locomo
tive wore long linen busters. Conduc
tor Fraley and all the train men, in fact
did all they could under the circumstan
ces. Several suspicious persons are al
ready under arrest, and every effort viii
be made by the railroad company tt
bring the robbers to justice. They have
it is understood, already offered a re
ward of n thousand dollars. Thesr
particulars have been gathered from on
Of the train men who was a witness 0
the whole affair.
NEW YORK.