Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-11-05
BIG TRAIN ROBBERY.
A Cool Headed Thief Bags Two
Men and $4,000.
HE HADAPISTOL WITH HIM,
II Scared a baggage Master and Express
Messenger Into Holding Up Their
Hands While the Safe Was
Rlfied of It's Treasure.

light the south bound passenger train on the
Northeastern road was robbed by a single
hiehwayman. who secured about $4,000,
$4,000 Of which was in United States bonds
and the balance in cash The robbery occur
red between Lacy and Derby stations, on the
Mississippi, about sixty miles froh this city.
The robber locked the doors Of the passen-
ger coaches and then entered the baggage
and express car. The baggage master was
covered by two pistols, and the express agent
was compelled to place a sack over the bag
gage masters head. This sack was made
especially for such purposes and was about
a foot square when aattened out. 1t was
made of strong cotton cloth and the
mouth was encircled by strong cord
so that it could be quickly
and firmly fastened about the neck. Having
secured and imprisoned the baggage master,
the robber then went into the express end OF
the car. The messenger, Charles w. Lowry,
was at his desk fixing up his accounts, when
the robber suddenly appeared, and, pointing
the pistols at him. ordered him to open the
safe If he wanted TO live any longer He was
obeyed The robber ordered Lowry to take
oil the money and money packages
from the safe and put them In bag.
This was also done. He next made the
messenger place bag over his own head,
and, having tied the string, the robber coolly
told him to take a walk. The robber pulled
the bell rope, the train stopped, and he
stepped Off without any one save the two
T1en in the baggage aud express car being
Gware of what had occurred. On inquiring
Into TIE cause of the stopping of the train
HE two men were discovered with their
heads in the bags as described The robber
had disappeared and no trace of him re-
T.. l. 20. l.axT hon yr1a
the train one or two stations above the
locality of the robbery.
Baggage Master McElroy tells this story
Of the robbery: Sat about 4:30 o'clock in the
morning train No 8, of which am baggage
master, pulled out from Derby. The baggage
car was next to the engine, and the rear door,
that facing the passenger car behind, was
opened, while that facing the engine was
locked. / was busy writing, when suddenly
iman entered through the open door, closed
and locked it behind him, and let the key re-
main in the lock to prevent any one from
opening IL from the outside. He then drew n
pistol and leveled it at me, and with an oath
ordered me throw up my hands. put down
my clip and got up, but not complying with
his request TO throw up my hands, he drew a
second revolver and repeated his former re-
quest. then threw up both my hands and he
marched me back TO the rear end of the car,
and, covering the messenger, also ordered
him to open the safe and take therefrom all
the money, bonds and valuables The mes
senger did as he was told, and after he had
cleaned out the safe the highwayman told
him TO cover my head with an empty sack
After this had been done he babe Mr.. Lowry
get down upon his knees and put the money
into two small sacks which were lying on the
floor.
''Then, with the utmost GOODNESS the robber
said to the terrified messenger: Now, put an
empty sack upon your head This order was
complied with with alacrity. He then led me
over to the safe and sat me down upon it
with my back turned towards him He took
both sacks, as nearly as | can judge being
blindfolded by the sack, to the end of the car
nearest the engine, where he laid them down
near the door. He returned to the centre of
the car and cut one of the mail pouches open,
but whether he took anything or not can't
say. Turning to me- he asked, Is that front
door openf No. replied lit is locked and
freight piled up against it, TO - with
the freight said he, I'm get it out of
the way. He did not go out that door,
however, although he inserted false
key in it as a precaution against intrusion.
He walked to the other end of the car with
his sacks of money, deliberately removed the
key from the inside and inserted it on the
outside, and as no stepped ON the threshold
said to me: Il know you, - your Il don't
know you,' / manager TO reply. That's all
right When you tell about this matter you
want to say that am short, thick set mani
Do YOU heart If you give me away I'll kill
your He pulled the bell rope as q signal to
stop the train, then stepped outside upon the
platform of the passenger coach just behind
the baggage door, and as the train Stacked
up sufficiently to allow him to get off, he
reached up, pulled the bell as a signal to go
ahead, and stepped off into lot of brush
and was soon lost TO view.
s'Soon afterward the robbery was discov-
cred, but the thief was then many miles
away. ] was so frightened that did not
study his features so closely, but he was
red faced lantern jawed man, about six feet
high. and of slender build. He wore red
whiSkers, which appeared to be false, and had
a bandanna handkerchief over his mouth
which hung down, completely covering his
neck Almost every sentence he uttered was
filed with oaths, and he took things as
though robbing of trains were everyday
work with him.
"Tve been in some mighty tight places
said Mr.. McEiroy, land have looked down
11tS 4ltQ&At1 VI q AtN1ANCA 1ttoAS luAu ONCE
but / must confess that never was So
thoroughly frightened as was this morning,
and hope l may never have such another
experience during the rest of my life. Why,
the bores of his revolver looked as big as
hickory nuts
This story is corroborated by Charles w.
Lowry, express messenger of the Baltimore
and Ohio company. A brakemen ON the
train saw the robber as he was leaving the
train, and had he known of the theft could
have killed him easily, as he was but ten
feet away at the time and walking leiSurely
away with his back towards the train. The
brakeman says the man wore gray coat
and soft felt hat slouched down ON one side.
Neither the Baltimore and Ohio or the
United States Express company VIII tell the
amount of their losses, but it is thought that
Lowry's estimate of SO 600 is correct
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