Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-07-21
Bold Train Robbery.

Bold Train Robbery.
Rock ISLAND, July 16.-Th;s even
ing the organs will contain the follow
ing account of the train robbery on the
c., r. l. & P railway: The train was
boarded at Winston, by gang af men.
While number of accomplices were
already in different cars, the signal
was given, the robbers rushed forward
and shot the conductor, and made an
effort to kill the engineer; the latter es-
capped in the darkness, and a stone ma
son, who was one of the passengers.
WAS mistakened for the engineer AMI
killed. Immediately after having Sc
cured possession of the train, one of
them ran to the engine, steam was APP
piled, and the train was started over the
track at furious rate of speed. The
robbers then started for the express
messenger. and another squad started
for the cars, when the order was given
to the passengers to hold up their
hands and give up their money and
valuables. The men sent to the mes
senger succeeded in knocking him
down and securing his keys. With
these they opened the safe and secured
all the money and valuables it contained
No event occurred to excite suspicion
Of the pass engers and train men until
Weston was reached, which was at
$50. AT that station four rough look
ing men got on the train, with hand
kerchiefs tied about their faces SO as
to partially conceal their features. The
first intir alton that the passengers had
that there was anything wrong was the
cry of "All Aboard" which appeared
to be signal. At that instant the four
men as well as several others who had
come from Kansas City and Cameron,
made rush for the engine and for
conductor Charles Westfall. Firing was
heard in the front cars as we'll as on the
engine, and the train was put in mo-
ton at a 40-mile per hour rate. On CIV
ing signal, two of the men made for
the first coach, where the conductor
was standing. One of the men went
up to conductor Westfall, and pointing
a pistol at him, said. "You are the
man want After saying that, the
robber fired, the pistol ball striking
Westfall in the arm, but did not prove
fatal. Westfall attempted to run, and
as he did so, the robber fired twice at
him. Westfall reached the platform,
when second robber fired the shot
which killed him instantly. The con-
ductor fell dead on the platform; he
was wounded in several places, but the
last shot took effect in the brain, pro-
ducing instant death. Three of the
robbers started for the engine with the
intention of shooting the engineer, and
taking possession of the engine. The
engineer seemed to apprehend that
there was danger, as on the approach
of the trio, he started back on the en-
CINE and secreted himself in the ten
der.
A stone mason by the name of Will
lie Cove came from the baggage car
while the shooting was in progress; the
robbers mistook him for the engineer,
and shot him, the ball taking effect in
his heart.
Charley Murray, the express messen-
ger, was also visited by some of the
robbers. He was knocked over the
head and made to deliver the keys of
his safe. The robbers ransacked the
safe and secured $500 in money, $500
in valubles, and government bonds to
the amount of $1,000. Murray was
threatened with instant death if he
concealed anything, but was permitted
to live on informing them that all his
valuables were in the safe.
A brakeman, on duty, whose
name cannot be ascertained, as soon as
he learned of the murder of the con-
ductor, rushed through the train and
Informed the passengers that an effort
would likely be made to rob them. As
soon as this had been accomplished, the
brakeman started forward, and when
in the second coach the robbers enter
ed both doors, with pistols in their
hands, demanding money. The brake
man pulled the cord attached to the
air brake, and soon afterward the train
stopped. The men then jumped off
from the cars and made for the woods
Mr.. Martin stated that not
more than fifteen minutes elapsed
from the time of leaving Winston I'M
I'll the robbers jumped from the cars,
and made themselves scarce. The
sleeping car porter locked himself up
in a stall room of the sleeper. and did
not make himself visible until the
train was near Washington Conduc-
tor Westfall who was killed, lived at
Wilton, where his remains were left
this morning. The robbers numbered
thirteen, and only two of them had
handkerchiefs tied about their faces.
Because there was not enough money
IN the safe to satisfy the robbers, they
4 I