Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-01-26
TRAIN ROBBERS Fooled.

| 6Ouuucu anu tno x4neAEo O1Sh
Captured.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 21.-Last nights Post
Dispatch has the following account of q
daring attack on a Wabash Western
train, and the defeat and capture of the
robbers. 1t says that daring, but unsuc-
csssful attempt to'rob an express train OF
the Wabash Western road was made al
about half past nine O'Clock last night at
| a point few miles east of Missouri City,
| little town not far from Kansas City.
| The regular Kansas City st. Louis Ex-
| press train No. left Kansas City at the
regular hour, 500 p. m. 1t was in charge
of W. O. Becky. the regular conductor.
| George Morsey was in the cab of the en-.
| CINE, No. 1872, Ed Sharp, one of the oldest
messengers on the road in time of service,
was in the car OF the Pacific Express
Company, and F.S. Trues dale was in
| charge of the baggage. The train made
/ its first stop at Harlem at twenty-five
| minutes to nine. Then il went on
| past Randolph, Birmingham, Liber-
| ty Landing and Clay without stopping,
reaching Missouri City, twenty-five miles
| from Kansas City. at 9:20 p. m. a few
minutes before time. On the platform of
| the little station was band of men with
| shotguns. The conductor was informed
| that they We're under command of an Of
fetal of the county who had received
| word that an attempt would be made to
rob the St Louis express at a lonely spot
a little less than two miles east of Mis-
souri, City. One of the officers got in the
cab of the engine with the engineer and
fireman, and the others distributed them
selves through the train.
In another minute the train pulled out
toward Lexington Junction, the next
stopping point. Between Missouri City
and Lexington are several small stations.
The first of them is Cooley's Lake, fish
ing resort for the employees of the w abash
road. It is about two miles east of Mis-
souri, City. 1t is one Of the lonl lest points
ON the road in winter time, for the little
house at the lake is deserted and there is
not another dwelling in sight. A quarter
of mile away is the Missouri river, while
in the other direction is strip of tim Der.
just west of Cooley's lake is the spot,
where, according to the Information re-
ceived by the authorities of the county,
the attack was to be made.
None Of the passengers on the train
were notified of the danger, but as the
train pulled out of Missouri City me
lights in the cars We're lowered. and the
II ain men took their PLACES at the doors
of the coaches with revolvers drawn.
They could see any one on the platform of
the coaches without themselves being
seen. The express messenger barricaded
the door Of his car and the baggageman
shut himself carefully in.
THE ATTACK.
The train moved on at its regular rate of
speed. In the cab of the engine crouched
a man with a loaded shotgun. AS the
point of attack was neared a red light
was seen cleaning ahead. The engineer
obeyed the danger signal, for it might
have been in front of a break in the track
or a barricade which would have thrown
the engine from the track. AS the train
slowed up the engineer saw three masked
men standing on the track. They were
armed with rifles and their faces were
concealed by pieces of cloth with holes
cut in them.
"Get off there" said the leader of the
three men to the engineer.
"What do you want?" asked Engineer
Morsey.
e'Never you mind" said the masked
bandit. "You get off there now"
Morsey climbed down out of the cab.
Just as he reached the ground the officer
in the cab pointed the shotgun out of the
window and fired. Whether he hit the
lie adler of the band Of robbers or not he
could not afterward tell, but both he and
the engineer were of the opinion that he
had. AS soon as the shot was fired he
and Morsey dropped down out of sight.
The shot from the cab was answered with
shots from the guns of the robbers, which
ratified about the engine, but did no
harm. The three men retired in a
demoralized state.
AN AMBUSH.
As they moved back a part of the posse
came up from the woods, where they had
been in 'concea' ment for some time and
opened fire on them. These men had been
sent out from Miss souri, City in advance
of the train and had concealed them
selves, to be in read mess whenever they
should be needed.
About twenty shots were exchanged,
the men on the train joining in the pur-
suit. Then the track was examined and
found clear. and the train pulled out
twenty-five minutes behind time for Lex.
ington Junction.
The posse continued in pursuit of the
band, and when the train reached Moberly
there was report that two of them had
been captured by the officers and that
in the struggle one of them had been
killed. The robbers are known to be
farmers living in the neighborhood of |
Missouri City. One of them is said to
have been member of the James gang at
one time. It was the evident intention Of
the band to rob the express car, for the !
attack was concentrated on the front part |
of the train and no effort was made to |
reach the passenger coaches. The train
arrived in this city this morning at 1880, |
fifty minutes late. OF this time less than |
twenty five minutes was lost at the scene |
Of the attack.
The robbers, as far as known, are Bar
ney Swinney, notorious character, John
Hargrave and John Drew, the latter the
one who "gave the snap away" Har-
grave, who was first captured, confessed |
his guilt and stated that when he and |
Swinney separated, Swinney gave him
his weapons and said he would have to go |
to physician, he was wounded in |
the leg, and could not walk. |
Constable King. accompanied by |
Marshal Bratton and Mereness, |
went to the house where Hargrave said |
Swlnney had gone, and arrived there
about two O'Clock. He was found there |
seated in the kitchen. He gave up with |
out any resistance, and was placed in |
and taken to Missouri City, |
where he and Hargrave were guarded the
of the night. Drew, though |
arres ted, was subs equently set at liberty. |
Carpet Weavers Want More Wages
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 19.-The power