Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-09

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a 81 Louis special 81 Sunday says: At
The switch i've miles north Of Little Rock,
q II o'clock lest night . bullet went
whIxslns BY the head Of the engineer Of
the south-bcund night passenger train,
and 4 cry came from the bushes, stop
The train or you are . dead mani" The
enrlneer glanced ahead b zee II the switch
was All right. He had intended to pull the
throttle wide open and run out Of reach
Of the robbers. but a. be glanced ahead nc
saw that the switch was open. and. fearing
for The lives Of hls passengers, he brought
the train 10 stand still. A. be did so five
masked men appeared, all heavily armed,
and a. they came out Of the brush they
commenced firing through the carwindows
aud doors, taking good care TO aim nisn
and 10 bit no one. The only man whom
the bullets grazed was Conductor Rice. AS
soon ne he heard the first shot be Jumped
on the ground and ian forward, intending
10 assist the engineer. As be did so hve
bullets whizzed past his head.
The train bad stopped by this time, and
the robbers. Selling the opportunity, en-
tered the forward cars and covered the
pauic. stricken people with six-shooters.
They brought the engineer aud express
and baggage-men INTO the passenger
coaches, while one OF the gang proceeded
10 open the two express.safes In the ex-
press.car. The widest alarm and con-
sternstion at once prevailed, and the pas
sengers could see that they we're completely
al the mercy OF the desperadoes. The pas.
sengers In the rear car were not molested
unit the smoking-car in front was
"vone through" and while they knew that
an attempt at robbery was being made,
they were afraid to move, which, from the
reckless manner In which the balls were
fIying around, would have proved an un-
healthy undertaking. The valuable pro-
perry and money OF all IN the smokIng-car
were taken, the passengers being requested
TO hold ND their hands. When the leader
appeared In the door OF the rear car he
threw big revolver down In the most ap-
proved style, and called out In very loud
voice, "Hands upi" Every hand went
up with great rapidly. The robber looked
sround to see that every hand was up, and
then said
"PIl only detain you moment after the
safe Is opened. You will all be invited to
contribute to the missionaries"
He stood in the door, talking incessantly
In q joculsi manner, and watching his
comrades at work on the safe. Occasionally
he would shut the doors, but immediately
put his head In again and remind the peo-
pie that their hands must remain up. While
he was doing this the others were at work
robbing the express-car. They were some
what slow, and the leader finally got inn
patient at the delay and called out In
loud voice, "If you can't get the safe
open chuck 1t out and blow II open."
But the safe was opened, and then the
whole gang went for the last CIR. One
big burly fellow with large sack then
went through the car and snatched
watches and iewelry and money from
the unresisting passengers. The work was
not done expeditiously, and took three
quarters OF an hour from the time the first
shots were fired until 1t was all over. The
value Of the money and watches secured
amounted in all TO about $4,000. As soon
as the last passenger was attended 10 the
leader said You will all stay here for ten
minutes" An ominous CLEAN OF revolvers
was seen, and IN response TO the demand
Of the leader that they should swear TO obey
his mandate, feeble and forced "Yes"
walled out on the air. The gang disap-
peared In the darkness, and after few
minutes the train was started and brought
into Little Rock.
As soon rs II arrived there a sherif's posse
was organized and started In pursuit Of the
robbers. The roadmaster happened TO be
on the train, and he and the train hands
lost sums ranging from $50 TO 800. The
express-car OF the Southern Express Com
pany is said to have contained about $1,000,
which was OF course taken. The following
passengers were robbed Of the sums men,
toned: II. Il. Dow, OF the firm Of Cole Il
Dow. Little Rock, nearly $500; l.. l..
Thompson, Pine Bluff, gold watch
and $40 in silver; S. L. Hedges.
Little Rock, gold watch and small
sum OF money; w. Richards, Lit
tie Rock, gold watch and money; w.
Dyer, engineer Of the snag-boat Reese,
money; j. NJ. Blair and wife, so or SIS;
Matt Coen, Little Rock, 81; John w. Dill.
OF William Resor & Co., st. Louis, could
not tell how much; j. c. Duncan, San An
tonic. Texas, stockman. lost $50, but he
saved large sum by hiding it under his
seat-cushion; George w. Atkins, Pine
Bluff, 500; Il. b. Martin, Little Rock, 50;
Freeman Smith, OF III. Westerman Il Co.,
st. Louis, about 81. but saved package
containing 5000 by hiding 1t in his
boot; G.. w. ID. Cook. Atlanta, Ca.
800; Robert Allen, Little Rock, $1,000;
Z. s. Williams, OF the Cole Manufac-
turing Company, Memphis, Tenn, $40;
Thomas b. Martin, Little Rock, gold
watch; j. S. Whiting, Little Rock, gold
watch and chain and $40. The robbers
were completely disguised. were Of me-
dunn size, and wore white masks, cover
ing heir heads, with the exception OF eyes
and mouth, rough, ragged holes being cut
In the masks, through which their eyes
shone. Everyone Of the gang had his
trousers turned inside out. Their coats
were old and ragged. Three lady passen-
gers were not molested, the leader declar-
ing that bis mother was lady il he him.
self was vilainous scOundrel.