Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-08
TRAIN ROBBERY.
A Dozen Masked H~ighwaymer
Make a Clean Sweep of 1t
On the Chicago & Alton Rail Road
Near Independence.
Ladies' Robbed of Earrings, Men
of Money and the Express Of
IFS Treasure.

-
of Money and the Express of
lbs Treasure.
ST.. LOUIS, September ga Republican
Independence MOI special received at
half past three o'clock, this morning says
that passenger train No. As on the Chicago
& Alton railroad was stopped and robbed
by twelve masked men, four miles east of
Independence and fourteen miles from
| Kansas City, OF 8 O'Clock last night. The
Express car was broken open and the
messenger, Fox, refusing to give up the
KEY was so terribly beaten he cannot live.
The amount taken Is not known but is es-
timated at from five to twenty thousand
dollars. After going through the express
car ali the passengers were robbed oftheir
money and watches, amounting TO several
thousand dollars. The robbers were heav-
lily armed and kept up a continual firing
OF pistols TO imtimidate the passengers.
Several shots were fired at Conductor
Hazelbaker, but he escaped unhurt. The
whole affair occupied less than fifteen
minutes and was done very systematic
ally. After securing their booty the whole
party rode 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 Is in a
dense woods two miles from any habita-
ton. The train was stopped by q red Ian
tern and distractions on the track. The
train ran into Kansas City and gave the
alarm and Chief of Police Speers started
out at once with fifty men on horseback.
A special train with a posse under Mar
shall Murphy went Immediately to the
scene Of the robbery, and large bodies are
being sent out fromall points and in every
direction. The whole country is aroused
and intense excitement prevails; 'The
leader of the party answers to the de-
scription Of the leader of the party that
robbed the Chicago and Rock island
train at Winston on July 18th.
LATER.
The following further particulars are
received; The train was the west bound
express had about 100 passengers on
board, all Of whom lost something and
many quite heavily,
Frank Lombard, news agent Of the
train, made the following statement l
was sitting in the smoking car talking
with the conductor, Jack H~azelbaker.
We were on the Upgrade four miles from
Independence. All of a sudden the train
came to a stop. We heard loud voices
and pistol shots and saw lanterns flashing.
W. knew robbers were on us. Hazelbaker
ran back into the train and warned the
passengers. They were all looking out of
them to pull in their heads and keep
quiet. The robbers had stopped the train
by putting an obstruction on the rails and
signaling. l am sure there were a dozen
of them, although some of the passengers
place the number at sixteen. Everybody
was panic stricken and helpless. / ran
out of the car and found men guarding
the engineer and fireman. They were
poorly masked, but all armed with Henry
rifles. They were swearing loudly and
shouting at random. Some ofthem passed
into the mail car, but didn't touch my
thing. Express Messenger Fox, in the
meantime, had barricaded the express car.
They climbed upon the run around and
began to shoot. They then broke
into the car and knocked Fox
down by a violent blow on the head. They
robbed the safe of everything. | ran
back into the smoking car and had most
of the money. The robbers came in and
ordered me to lie down. l did so and
they showed a gun to my head and told
me to fork over. | said my money was
under the cushion. They told me to get
it and / got 1t in a hurry, you can bet.
They then went back to the other cars and
made a wholesale robbery Of money,
watches and jewelry. Some passengers
hnH cnarafa1 fbafs Vnnuaw l,t -...A
many lost all. The ladies were compelled
to sit down on the floor, and some had ear
taken from their ears and many lost
all their jewelry. One man lost $3.50. InI
the meantime a freight train was coming
up behind us and Burton, the
brakeman, ran down the cut with
a storm of bullets after him, stopped the
train, and probably saved many lives.
After the cars were gone through the rob
bers Jumped off and struck for the tim
Der, where their horses were. The men
in front helped the train roll off the OBJ
structions and then Joined their compan-
ions. l should say we stood still half an
4. T., or Frank Burton, brakeman. said:
81 was standing on front of the plat
form Of the sleeper when the train stop
ped, and ] heard voices and oaths on the
back platform. / said, I'VE are going to
be robbed Then ono of the robbers
cried out, We are coming in and going
through you ALL | remembered that the
train was just behind us, and j
heard it coming up. | jumped off and
with my lantern down the track.
They commenced shooting at me,
and bullets whistled all around
me, and struck the rails and
They must have fred twenty-five !
shots. The engineer said; For Gods
sake, don't shoot the boy; he is saving the
lives Of these people, Then one Of them
threw up his arms and cried: 'Stop
shootingp | rolled Snto the cut and
waived my lantern, The train was
only a cars length off. When / |
back the robbers said; Have YOU
lost anythingf l answered, 'Ffty
cents. lie gave me $3.50 for interest.
Then | heard one of the robbers saw To-
the engineer, Choppy Foote; You're too
good q man to keep up this business.
Here's two dollars to buy a drink in the
morning and drink it for jesse James. l
warn you you'll be killed if you don't
leave this road. We are going to tear up
and burstthe Alton and Rock Island roads,
for they've been offering rewards for us.
We've no grudge against the Pullmans,
and will switch off their cars and burn all
tho rest. / am the man who killed West
LAKE. at Winston. He was too smart and
drew a revolver Burton did not believe
II was jesse james or any Of his gang.
They all acted green at the business, and
he thought they were men livinO in tha |
vicinity. They all seemed quite young
and made no attempt to disguise their
voices The passengers tell substantially
the same story as above.