The Portland daily press., 1881-09-09
DARING TRAIN ROBBERY.
A Western Train Boarded by
Masked Men.
PASSENGERS ROBBED OF THOU
SANDS OF DOLLARS.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo-, Sept. S.-Nine masked
robbers stopped the Chicago and Western ex-
press and mail train at o'clock last night two
miles west of Glendall Ihey took possession
OF the train and held the passengers in terror
with loaded rifles and revolvers. Two of the
robbers knocked down the express messenger
and blew open the safe in the express Car, rob-
bing it of $4,000. They then Went through the
pocket of every passenger, taking all that was
valuable The whole affair occurred in lees
than fifteen minutes. After securing the booty
the whole party rcde off into the woods. The
train men made show OF resistance but being
unarmed they could effect nothing. The spot
selected for the bold deed was IN dense
woods two miles from any habitation. The train
was stoppek by red lantern aud distractions
on the track. The train ran into Kansas City
and gave the alarm and Chief of Police Spears
started out at once with 90 men on horse back.
A special train with posse under Marshal
Murphy also went Immediately to the scene
and large bodies of men are being sent out
from all points in every direction. The whole
country is aroused and intense excitement pre-
walls The leader of the party answers the
description of the leader OF the party that rob-
bed the Chicago and Rock Island train at
Winston July 9th.
|. CINCINNATI, Sept SIN reference to the In.
dependence robbery in Missouri, St. Louis
dispatch says: The robbers numbered IL to 16,
and were armed with Henry riff es. They
made the ladies sit on the Car floor, and took
tnelf earrings ana JeW6lry. Oue man loSb @40U
In the meantime the train was coming up and
Burton, the brakeman, ran down the cut with
storm of bullets after him, stopped the train
and probably saved many lives. After the
cars were gone through the robbers jumped OFT
and struck for the tlmbers where their horses
were The men in front helped the train
mensto roll off the distractions and then joined
their companions.
LATER.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. S.--Gov. Chittenden has is
sued a proclamation calling upon the people to
rise en- masse and exterminate the train rob
bers. He has gone to Kansas City to consult
with the authorities of jackson regarding the
apprehension of the robbers. Fully thousand
men are organized in to posses from Kansas
City and from jackson, Lafayette, Clay, Ray,
Clinton and Sabine counties and are now IN
the field under the command of sheritfs and
marshalS.
There was on board the train party of 50
land buyers from New York. The robbers OBJ
tanned from these parties between $3CJO and
$4,000.
KANSAS CITY, Sept. Sd. B. Treat, agent
of the United States Express Company of
Kansas City, states that the amount OF money
the robbers got from the companys safe was
not more than few hundred dollars. Inform
alton has just reached here that Chief Police
Spears has arrested six of the robbers.
The Engineers Statement.
Mr. Foote, engineer of the train, says that
after he stopped he was approached by four of
the gang and the leader who, ander cover of
revolver, forced him to break open the door OF
the express cars. Messenger Fox had hidden
himself in the woods by the roadside but they
swore they would kill me if he did not come
out and so L called for him and he entered the
car with two of the robbers who forced him to
open the safe and pour its contents into sack.
They were disappointed at not getting more
booty and knocked Fox down twice with the
butt end of revolver, cutting his head in a
fearful manner. They then marched US TO the
coaches where they kept us covered with re-
volvers while they robbed the passengers.
After the last coach had been gone through
they marched us back to the engine when the
leader said, ssYon have been o bully boy; here
is little present for you" and handed me two
silver dollars | told him would remove the
obstructions on the track and the entire gang
skipped up over the embankment and were
out of sight in moment. In going through
the passengers each one was made to hold
up his hands and what was taken from them
was put into two bushel sack which was.
nearly full of watches, money and other
valuables. They did not take anything from
me.