The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-10
EXPRESS ROBBERS FonED.
LOCOMOTIVE AND EXPRESS CAR CAPTURED
ON THE vANDALIA RoAD-THE ENGnNEER
KILLED-HERoIo CONDUCT OF THE MES

LOCOMOTIVE AND EXPRESS CAR CAPTURED
KILLED-HERoIo CONDUCT OF THE MES
sENGER-ARREsT OF SUSPECTED PARTIES
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. July o, 1875.
desperate attempt to roo an express car was
made on the Vandalia Railroad last night. Long
Point, ILL, where the anaT occurred, is three
miles west of Casey. All trains are accustomed
to stop there ior the engine to take water. It is
situated Ia the middle OF a dense wood, no person
living within mile and nal OF the station. It
has been long regarded by railroad men as e
dangerous place. Several times lately the en-
gneers have seen suspicious looking persons Turk
ing In that vicinity at night. ana, In consequence,
nave not stopped their tram. List night, at MO-
night, when passenger train No. 8, bound East,
conductor Fraley 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 engine. TIE en-
the order. After the starting oil the tram one or
the robbers remarked, 1--WE will run the thing
ourselves,n and immediately both roboers
- FIRED AT TIE ENGINEER,
king MIN instantly. The fireman, who was
Standing upon tue tender, ran 10 the rear OF the
TRAIN 10 alarm the tram men, he having heard the
conversation and comprehending the situation at
once Winnie this was taking place on the engine
u confederate OF the robbers had detached the
Adams express car from the cars in lhe rear.
The whole party OF robbers then ran the train 10 q
point about two miles nom the station, wnen they
stopped, and proceeding to the door OF the eX-
press 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 nrIng
into the car ana the messenger said IL seemed 10
MIN that there were dozen oil them. as the shots
came from all sides. rne conductor and train men
seeing the position OF affairs set about TO pursue
the robbers. but could find only one revolver
the train. They, however, discovered two soldiers
armed with carblnes, ana with these weapons the
train men and soldiers
STARTED AFTER THE ROBBERS.
When they came up to the train all was quiet
the robbers having ned. They found tue dead
body or the engineer on the floor oil the cab. A
freight train engineer, named Jack Vandergrift
happened TO be on the tram and he and the lre-
IT In. The robbers 1ailed to gain an entrance to
the express car, IL being one OF the close Kind
having no windows and very strong in every way,
HAD they detached the American Express car,
when was Immediately IN the rear OF the Adams
Express car, they might have accomplished
their purpose as it is an open car having
WINDOWS aud doors and not being very
strong. The finding OF a hammer, used TO
knock out the coupling pin, may serve, possibly,
as clew 10 tie murderers. The tram men speak in
very hlgh terms OF the pluck and courage dis.
tense leenng among railroad men over the tragi-
cal death OF engineer Ames, and should mis- MUIR
derers be caught II Is very generally believed that
thelr prosecution would not cost the State any,
thing. Several suspected persons already IN
custody and there Is reason to hope that all the
ROBBERS VIII be caught. The railroad company
oner 81, 900 reward for their apprehension.