The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-09-27

Httle way, when three OF Lne fODOefe
caught the door, and throwing it wide
open, presented their revolvers at the mes
sengor They then went through one Of
the safes in the car and secured the treas
ure- boxes, containing $4,000 in gold
coin. The through safe, which has a
combination lock which is only unlocked
at each end of the Union Pacific Road,
they did not touch, as the messenger did
not know the combination, and could not,
therefore, reveal the secret to them, not
withstandipg their threatening demands.
The robbers did not interfere with the
United States mails, but went from the
express car into the firstclass passenger
coaches and robbed the passengers, after
which they disappeared
They mad no horses in sight, but it is
supposed that they had their steeds con-
cealed near by.
Above are the particulars according to
Barnhart's dispatch. Further details are
learned from Conductor Patterson's tele-
grams, in which it is stated that the party
numbered from ten to fifteen men.
When he arrived at Big Springs Station
they had, as stated above, captured the
Agent, cut the telegraph instruments, and
hung out red light for orders. When he
stepped upon the platform to get his tele-
graphic orders two men with cooked re-
his hands, which he did. They had al
ready captured the express messenger,
engineer and fireman. Beside the coin
they got $458 in currency from the ex-
press car. From passenger named L.
Morris they got gold watch, $430 in
money and a ticket to Chicago.
Wht1o fhoxy y.Ot, fho ,acccv rrovr
freight train No. 10 came along, and this
process among the passengers, As the
freight was approaching, Conductor Pat.
tersOn was allowed to go under guard to
flag it. A guard accompanied him until
he passed the sleepers, when the guard re-
Joined the main gang, who then quickly
disappeared.
They had extinguished the fire in the
engine of the express train, and, when the
freight train came up, Conductor Patter-
son started the freight engine out spread
the news and get up party to pursue
them. Miller, the express messenger,
was somewhat bruised about the head, but
not dangerously, at the hands of the rob-
bers, who took his revolvers away from
him.
Sheriff Mccarthy, of Sydney, started
out early this morning with large posse
in pursuit of the thieves, and Sheriff Brad
ley, of North Platte, has also gone after
them
The country in which the robbery was
committed is wild and dreary, and some
trouble may be experienced in striking
the right trail. 1t is thought they have
gone north, and that they are the same
robbers who have recently been plumber
ing Black Hills stage-coaches.
Upon receipt of the dispatches in Oma-
ha, before daylight this morning, they
were carried to General Superintendent
Clark, at his residence, and he was soon
at the office. The first thing that he did
was to notify all telegraph stations along
the line and in the Black Hills, offering
reward of $4,000 for the capture Of
the thieves and money, or proportion
ate amount for either. He then telegraphed
the information to all other parts Of the
country.
Upon the arrival of the train here at six
O'Clock this evening l interviewed pas
sengers and trainmen, and found their
statements to agree in the main with the
above account. Conductor Patterson,
while under guard, was robbed of money
and watch, but got his watch back, as
they dropped it and he picked it up after
they left. Andy Riley, Of this city, was
on car platform, and they ordered him
to go in, and, ss he did not step quick
enough, they shot at him twice, one ball
grazing his left hand. They also robbed
him of 1926 and two watches. Council
man Cummings, who was on the platform
at the same time, got inside just as the
shots were fired. The bullets sank into
the door frame. The passenger coach
was robbed by six men, who, with
pointed and cooked revolvers, ordered
everybody's hand up. They collected
81 300 in currency, beside watches, jewel
ry and railroad tickets. They attempted
to force open the door of sleeper, but
failed. The passengers say that there
were thirteen men in the party. Every
effort will be made to capture them.-
Omaha tSept 19) Special to Chicago Irs-
bune.