The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-16
STOLE THE PAY CAR.
BOLD ATTEMPT TO GET RICH SUD
- DENLY.
Six Men Run on with a Railway Pay
Car and Se5. 900 in the safe-How
They Were Foiled by the Pay
master and Porter.

ATLANTA, Ga, July l6-Monday morn
ing the pay-car of the Air Line road was
brought into the city and side tracked with
supply car Some time between IL o'clock
and daylight an engine was coupled to the
ears and they were drawn four miles out Of
the city, where an attempt was made to
rob the pay-car. The engine belonged
to the Georgia road, and was stolen
from the yard A. Grosser, the pay
master gives the following account Of the
affair Il went to bed about o'clock, with
no one in the car but myself and Patrick
Ward, the colored porter. About o'clock
| awoke and found that my car was travel
ing at great rate of speed, probably about
forty miles an hour felt alarmed, sprang
from my bel, and ran into the porter's room
in my night clothes and told him to strike
light. l then hurriedly dressed. stepped out
of the front of the car, and climbed upon
the top of the supplycar and looked toward
the engine, but could see no one. | noticed
that the engineers face was turned toward
me, and that the headlight was not lit
ran to the back end of the car and put on
brake Once more clmed upon the top Of
the supply and asked: Where are
You goingT The answer came back:
Going to Bell Junction. What are you
going there forF l asked. Another
voice cried out: Amt you going to pay off
to .morrowf l askei: What's the row,
boysP You will know soon enough was
the answer; you're the man we want just
then four shots were fired at me- one strik-
ing just between my feet passing through
the supply car. thought it bost to take
hn md mic n
TO the porter, telling him to stand at the
rear door and shoot the first person that at
tempted to touch "A brake BY this time
the train Ihad stopped near Johnston's sta
ton, and | stepped Off the rear platform of
the pay-car ami ran about 100 yards down
the road to a cabin The inmates of the
house were nervous, refused TO render aid,
so | went TO the house of Mr. Swan, and
his two sons and three or four other
neig hbors started with me back TO the
station. Before reaching there we
heard the cars moving toward Atlanta,
and We started in that direction. After
walking about mile we heard terrible
crash near Clict0n station. Just before
reaching the station we heard men talking
but at the station not u soul was to be seem
The cars stood there considerably wrecked
and the engine had jumped the track !
had $4,000 in the safe, and it was the pur,
pose of the rascals TO force me to open the
safe by threatening my life"
How about your porter Does hs come
out all right" was asked
Ale can tell his own story. We found
him lying on the track about 100 yards from
the cars, with his head cut"
Patrick Ward, the colorei porter, sub.
stantiated Mr. Grosser's statements up to
the time he was left with a
pistol in his hand guarding tina
treasure. The porter said he heard
the men 60 to Grosser's car after that gen.
tleman had jumped oil and try to get him
TO open the door by pretending to be friends.
| They then broke into the car ami not find
ing the men they wanted, started the train
| again and the crash occurred.
1t was developed that six mon were con
cerned in the attempted robbery. James
| Nolan, one of them, has been arrested, but
denies his completely. Armed men are in
pursuit Of the fugitives They are believed
t. be discharged employees of the Air Line
| road