New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-10
TIE CAPTURE OF A ST. LOUIS EXPRESS
TRAIN BY ROBBERS.

THE TRAIN BOARDED IN A LONELY WOOp-MCRDfR
OF THE ENGINEER-TIIE ADAMS EXPRESS CAR
ATTACKED AND RIDDLED WITH SHOT BUT TIE
ROBBERS RETREAT WITHOUT THEIR BOOTY.
TERRE HATE, Ind, July "a desperate
attempt was made TO rob Express Messenger Burke at
Long Point. the Vandalia Railroad, last night Ihe
ngne and express were loose and the engineer
killed. but Burke kept the robbers at bay till help ar
rived. Long Point, where the attempted robbery oo-
Cured is In Illinois, three miles west Of Casey. All
trains accustomed to stop there for the engines to
take in water II is situated in the middle Of dense
wood. No person lives nearer than within mile and
half. II has long been regarded by railroad men az
dangerous place Several times, lately, the engineers
have suspicious looking persons lurking In that
vicinity nit and therefore did not stop thrr tram
Last night at midnight, when passenger train NO D,
east charge OF Conductor Fralcy and Engineer
Milo Ames stopped the water tank two men boarded
the engine each SIDE and ordered the engineer
the engine. After few moments hesitation ne
obeycd the order After the starting OF the ran one OF
robbers remarked We will run the thing Ourselves
and Immediately both robbers fired at the engineer, Kill
ing him instantly. The fireman. who was standing upon
the tender ran to the Of the train to alarm
the train-men having heard the conversation and
cOmprehendiDg the situation at once. conied-
crate OF the robbers then detached the Adams
Express car from the rear portion OF the tralh'
and the engines and ear were run on TO point
about miles The station stopping thc
bcs proceeded to the door Of the express car and de-
mandrd adnittancc Express Messenger Burke tod
them he ready for item, and that II they entered
they would be dead men. The robbers then began firing
into the ear The messenger said Ii seemed to him as II
there were dozen the party the bullets came from
all sides.
The conductor and tranmen meanwhile seeing the
position affairs prepared to pursue the robbers 1hy
could find only one revolver the train; but having
aroused soldiers armed with carbines they started
armed with these weapons. When they came up To the
train all was quiet the robbers having fed They found
the dead body Of the engineer the floor Of the cab
freight train engineer named Jack Vandergr happened
back to the train and freight train The robbers failed
gain an the express being one OF the
close kind having windows and being very strong In
every way. Had they detached the American Express
car which immediately in the rear of the Adams Ex
press ear they might have accomplished their purpose
az an open car having windows and doors, and was
not very strong
The finding OF hammer usedto knock out the coupling
pins may serve, possibly, as ccw Ia the murdcrcrs
The train men speak very high terms OF the pluck and
courage displayed by Messenger Burke. There Is intense
feeling among railroad the tragical death OF
Engineer Amcs and should his murderers be caught II Ia
very generally believed that their prosecution would not
cost the state anything Several suspected persons are
already custody and there is 10 hope that all
the robbers will be caught The railroad company 0fcr
81 900 reward for their apprehension.