, 1875-07-11


t)nce more We are called upon to record .
oold attempt to rob q railroad train. Hith-
erto, the operations of these desperadoes have
been confined to the distant sections of Iowa,
Missouri, and Arkansas, where the popn1a
ton is sparse and the roads run through
lonely and unfrequented sections Of country,
far away from any place TINT could interfere
with their infamous and murderous work
This time, however, the attempted robbery
in our own State and at our own doors. A
train on the Vandalia route had stopped at
watering station near Casey, Ill It YVES
nfter midnight whom the train reached
the spot, and it had harcuy halted
before two desperadoes uncoupled the
express-car from the rest of the train,
sprang upon the locomotive, and ordered the
engineer to go ahead The Inter was eyi-
IDENTIFY panic-stricken md knew not what to
do, and while he stood, either paralyzed with
fear or nreso1ute os to what be should do,
the fends shot and killed him, and then put
on steam. Two miles further the engine was
stopped and the robbers sought to force an
entrance into the e1press-car, but it was man.
fully defended by the messenger until some
Of the passengers reached the spot, when the
desperadoes fed. into the woods and escaped
The bravery Of the express messenger saved
his company from loss, 80 that the projected
robbery WINS a failure, but the sooundrels left
behind them murdered mnn-murdered in
the most cowardly manner, and without neces-
sity or cause.
This is the fifth or sixth occurrence Of this
Kind which has taken place within the last
two or three years, and, If We remember
rightly, none Of these marauders have ever
been brought to justice and hanged So
long, therefore, as the officers Of the Law fail
to arrest these desperadoes, and with each fail
ure they only grow bolder and bolder, Is it not
about time that the railroad companies them
selves did something? The express messen-
gers 60 armed, but q rule they are the
only officials on the train who have any
means Of defending themselves The utility
Of arrning tho express messengers has been
shown on several occasions Of late, where
they have protected their property,
and On one occasion at least kill
ed one Of the ecoundrels. But sup
pose that on these trains, instead Of an
express messenger, all the train employees
were effectively armed This would fur
nish a fighting force Of ten or twelve men
on every train Suppose, furthermore, that
every train carried a few Sharpe's rifles, under
charge Of the conductor, which could be given
to passengers in casa Of an emergency, hhw
long would these infamous operations con-
tinne7 The railroad companies are culpably,
if not crininally, negligent in falling to pro
tect their passengers. These robberies will
not cease until several Of the robbers
are killed or hanged, mud they
Will not be killed until they are
confronted by the train employees with
arms in their hands, It is simply disgracefu1
that a whole train Of unArmed passengers
should be exposed to the depredations and
assaults Of two or three desperadoes, armed
to the teeth, when the men connected with
tho running Of the train, outnu1nbering them
four to one, might prevent it il they had
revoIvers within reach. The law now pro-
videa that svery train shall carry an AZ,
sledgs, and saw, to be used ia case OF danger
from accident. In view Of these nsv dangers, !
tho law now ought to provide That tzaina