The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-09-28
THE TRAIN ROBBERS.

The Details of the Remarkable foray at
Big Springs, Nebraska-One OF the Most
Daring and Successful Robberies on
Record.
[omaha Cor. Chicago Tribune.l
Just previous to the arrival of the ex-
press No. 4, bound east, in charge of
Conductor Patterson, two masked men
stepped into the Office of the Station
Agent, Mr.. Barnhart, who was complete
ly taken by surprise. They pointed four
cooked revolvers at him, and ordered
him to tear up his telegraph instrument.
Mr.. Barnhart tried to deceive them by
taking up his sounder, but they stopped
him and made him take up his relay,
which they carried with them. The
person who gave the orders was the Capt
tain, and seemed to be an intelligent
man, and Mr.. Barnhart is of opinion
that he is telegraph operator They
then ordered him to put out the red
light, all the time keeping him covered
with revolvers. After the red light was
hung out on the track they commanded
Barnhart to get his mail ready as usual
Their arrangements were now COM
plete for receiving the expected train,
which soon came along, and, of course,
stopped in obedience to the rea-light
signal The masked marauders, there
being seven OF them in the party, then
at once began to carry out their we'll
laid plans. The four who had Barnhart
in charge took him to the door of the
express car and made him knock as he
usually does when he wishes the express
messenger to open the door. Miller,
the express messenger, having no sus-
picion that any other person except
Barnhart was outside, opened the door
little way, when three of the robbers
caught the door, and, throwing it wide
open, presented their revolvers at the
messenger. They then went through
one of the safes in the car and secured
the treasure-boxes, containing $50, 900
in gold coin. The through safe. which
has combination lock which is only
unlocked at each end of the Union Pa
citic road, they did not touch, as the
messenger did not know the combina-
ton, and could not, therefore, reveal
the secret to them, notwithstanding
their threatening demands. The rob-
bers did not interfere with the United
States mails, but went from the express
car into the first class passenger coaches
and robbed the passengers, after which
they disappeared. They had no horses
in sight, but it is supposed that they
had their steeds concealed near by.
The country in which the robbery was
committed is wild and dreary, and some
trouble may be experienced in striking
the right trail. It is thought that they
hoy north on1 hot <hax, <ha
same robbers who have recently been
plundering Black Hills stage coaches.
This is the first robbery of the kind
that has ever occurred on the Union Pa.
cifc, although it is a wonder to many
that the trains of this road have not long
before been attacked, as they have been
on other roads running through more
thickly- settled regions.
The loss, of course, falls upon the
Union Pacific Express Company, an or
ganization that is part of the railroad
company.
The above amount of coin is consid-
cred a very large sum as compared with
the average. It was shipment from
California. The company has expected
that some such affair would happen at
some time, and, in anticipation of Just
such deviltry, they have had the doors
of the express cars barred with boiler
iron. Machinery is so arranged that
messengers can fix it any time so rs not
to open the door more than six inches.
and hence, in this case, there must be
some good explanation, as undoubtedly
there is, as to how the robbers managed
to throw the door wide open. One man,
it Is SAID, with the usual tools and ma
chinery, ought to keep out twenty men.
Sheriff Bradley, of North Platte, when
ten miles out of Big Springs, struck the
robbers trail, and found two of their re-
volvers and treasure-box empty.
Conductor Patterson, while under
guard, was robbed of money and watch.
but got his watch back, as they dropped
1t and he picked it up after they lett.
Andy Riley, OF this city, was on car
platform, and they ordered him to 20 in.
and, as he did not step quick enough,
they shot at him twice, one ball grazing
his left hand. They also robbed hun of
$25 and two watches Councilman
Cummings, who was on the platform at
the same time, got inside just as the
shots were fired. The bullets sunk into
the door frame. The passenger coach
was robbed by six men, who, with point
ed and cooked revOlvers, ordered every
bodys hands up. They collected 81, 800 |
In currency, besides watches, jewelry,
and railroad tickets. They attempted |
to force open the door of sleeper, but |
failed. The passengers say that there |
were thirteen men iu the party. Every |
effort will be made to capture them.