McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-10-04
Unsuccessful Tram Robbers.

ST. LOUIS, September pa special
to the Post-Dispatch from Kansas City says :
This morning shortly before O'Clock the
thunderbolt passenger train on the Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad was board
| ed by band of twelve masked men at Cool
idge, Kas., and Wells, Fargo e. Co.'S safe
| robbed. The engineer, refusing to stop the
| train when ordered by the robbers, was in
stantly killed. The fireman and brakeman
were badly wounded, as was also the eX-
press messenger. 1t is impossible to ascer-
tain the amount OF booty the gang obtained.
The robbery creates most intense excite
ment In Kansas City, where it was thought
with the breaking up of the James gang
train robbing in the west would be forever
| ended. Coolidge, where the robbery was
| committed, is small station Oh the
Atchison, Topeka 81 Santa Fe road,
1876 miles west of Kansas City, and with the
exception of the telegraph OPERATOR is almost
uninhabited. An armed posse have been
sent out from Emporia, Topeka, Dodge
City and other points to pursue and cap
ture. or kill the robbers. A later dispatch
dated at Coolidge, says S. S. Peterson, tho
express messenger. was not hurt, and the
robbers got no money.
KANSAS CITY, September 29.-The
Santa Fe train which was attacked at Cool
idge at clock this morning arrived here
late tonight. Statements of passengers
differ somewhat from the brief account tel
egraphed to-day. G.. c. James, postal
clerk, tells the following story. "The train
had stopped at the station and the conduc-
tor had just signaled to start when man
with drawn revolver climbed on
the engine and ordered the en-
gineer to surrender. A scuffie en-
sued. Meanwhile q man opened the
door Of the express car stumbling as he
entered. He at once opened fire on the
messenger, who crouched behind a box.
The robber fired four times. The messen-
ger returned the fire, when the former
retreated from the car. just as the fireman,
who had left the engine, was crossing the
platform the robber fired, and Paddle, the
fireman, fell, shot senseless through the
neck. Meanwhile the first robber, who had
been forced backward by the engineer, fell
dead, shot through the head. James, hear
ing the firing, had gone to the door of his
car and witnessed the attack on the express
car. BY this time the people had come out
OF the train and the robbers had disap-
peared. Only few persons witnessed the
shooting.
5. S. Peterson, the messenger, who resides
Fere, tells about the same story as James.
He declined to say exactly how much money
there was in the express car. Everybody
seemed dazed By the shooting, and it was
some time before pursuit was organized.
One theory of the affair Is that the robbers
had accompices farther down the road, and
that the intention was to run the train
short distance and stop; that the assailsnts
were somewhat under the influence of
liquor, and the plan miscarried. Strangers
were seen about the platform before the
train arrived. As curious coincidence it
Is related train was attacked few miles
west OF Coolidge, across the line in Colorado,
just year ago tonight, and the Wells f,
Fargo express safe was robbed.
The Wells Fargo express company refuse |
to divulge the amount of treasure in the car. |
1t is rumored there was $50. 900 in the safe |
consigned from Denver to Chicago, but |
nothing definite Is known beyond company |
officials.