The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-09-17
Daring Train Robbery.


Another daring train robbery is reported
from Missouri. At o'clock s. passenger
train on the Chicago and Alton railroad was
stopped at place fourteen miles from Kansas
Cay by a g ng of armed and masked men who
boarded 1t and robbed the express car and the
Passengers. The place chosen for the robbery
vas dense wood two miles from any dwelling
Tie robbers had placed distractions on the
Ilack and one of their number went forward
with q red light and warned the engineer.
When the train was brought to a standstill
twelve or sixteen men, armed with Henry rifles
and reviewers, stepped from the wood and or
dered Messenger Fox to open the express car
He refused and along with the train hands
made show of resistance, but they were
quickly overpowered. The robbers beat Fox
terribly injuring him. They then entered the
car and took from $1,000 to s20,000 At
terward they went through the cars and robbed
the passengers Of money and jewelry, compell-
ing the ladies to sit on the floor while they
took off their earrings and brooches. In less
than fifteen minutes they had completed their
work, and after assisting the train hands to re-
move the distractions they mounted their horses
and rode off The train ran into Kansas City
and gave the alarm. Chief of Police Speers
started out at once with fifty men on horseback
and special train with posse under Marshal
Murphy was sent to the scene of the robbery
Large bodies of men were sent out from differ
ent points surrounding the scene of the rob-
berry. The whole country was aroused and in
tense excitement prevailed
The engineer, Forte, in his account of the
robbery, says that ii occurred between three
and four miles east of Independence in deep
cut over which the Missouri Pacific track cross
es the Chicago and Alton road. The robbers
had piled stones in the center of the track, and
on top was a stick to which was attached red
rag, and behind the pile stood the
of +ho
ordered him off the engine and
made him break down the door of the express
car. Messenger Fox hid himself in the weeds,
but the robbers said they would kill Foote if
he didn't come out, and so he entered the car
and opened the safe. The robbers were dis
appointed at not getting more booty and
knocked Fox down twice with the butt-enG of
navy revolver, cutting his head in a fearful
manner They then robbed the passengers.
Before they left they gave Foote SO.
Among the passengers on the train was
party of thitty-ive gentlemen from New York,
who were going to Kansas to buy land The
robbers took from the party between $4,000
and 81 900.
While the robbery was progressing freight
train was coming up behind, and Frank Burton,
the brakeman, ran down the cut with shower
of bullets after him and stopped the train,
thereby saving collision.
Governor Crittenden has issued proclama-
ton calling upon the people to rise and exter-
minate the train robbers. He went to Kansas
CITY to consult with the authorities of Jackson
county regarding their apprehension. Fully
1000 men organized into posses from Kansas
City and from jackson, Lafayette, Clay, Rae,
Clinton and Sabine counties and took the field
under command Of sherifs and rarshals.
Information has reached Kansas City that
Chief of Police Speers, with his posse, has
arrested six of the robbers.
The train consisted of three coaches, bag
gage express car and sleeper. Six men went
through the passenger cars. One man headed
the file with cooked revolvers, which he pre-
scented at the heads of the frightened passen-
gers. The man next to him carried sack,
which he held open, and into which the passen-
gers dropped their valuables. Following the
man with the sack were four men armed to the
teeth with revolvers or Winchester rifles. The
leader, a tall, slim man, was masked with a
white muslin CLOTH as though number of
holes were cut in a handkerchief for eyes, nose
and mouth, and then tied around the face and
head. Some of the passengers claim to have
seen his features, and they describe him as
blonde, slender-built man, with long face, red
mustache and whiskers, and about six feet
high.