The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-11-30

UswEGo, kas., Nov. pa tram rob
berry Of extraordinary boldness was ac-
complshed in the Choctaw Nation, In
dian Territory, last night. The Missouri,
Kansas 4 Texas express train, north
bound for st. Louis, was held up on
Prior Creek, near Perry station, and the
express car robbed of about 500, eco. The
robbers DISPLAYED great coolness and
went about their work IN such familiar
manner as to convince the trainmen that
they were old time professionals.
The road agents were only two in
number. They had concealed them
selves in a clump of bushes near the
water tank on Prior Creek, and when
the train stopped for water they board
ed the engine, one on either side, and.
covering the astouudei engineer and
6remen with their rev0lvers, explained
to them their design Of robbing the
train. One of tbs robbers climbed into
the tender, and from that point 0 want
age was master of the engine. The
men in the cab were At his mercy and
we're compelled to obey his commands.
The other robber In the meantime had
gone pack to the express car and had
Gncoupied it from the rest of the train.
Entering the car he intimidated the ex-
press messenger 10y presenting a brace
OF revolyers at his head and ordering
him to dIsarm himself The messenger
obeyed, and the robber posse ssed him.
self of the messengers weap0ns and
through the window called to his con-
feGerate In the tender "AiI right; let
her go. The latter repeated the COM
mand TO the engineer, who had nothing
to do but obey. He opened the throt-
tie and the engine and express ear sped
away from the rest OF the train
Meanwhile the r9bber in the express
ear had not been idle. tie compelled
the messenger 70 open the safe bv
threat OF death, and to trans er the
sales contents 10 large gunny sack
hieh the robber had brought along to
convey the e3oty III. The messenger
again obeved. The rObber then made a
hasty examination Of the safe to see that
nothing valuable vas overlooked, and
giving a signal 10 his confederate the
latter ordered the engine to slack I'D.
This done the robbers disembarked
and made their escape in the dark
ness. All this vas done so quickly that
the engine Lad proceeded only a mile
and half from PRYOR Creek and the
robbers haa completed the robbery aud
effected their escape before the sur
prlsed traiumep knew whab had oc-
cured. No Ettempt was made to pur-
sue the road agents, and the engineer
ran back tC tee Creek, picked uD his
train and pursued his trip.
The train was the regular exUress
which always carries q large amount Of
express matter ard the robbers could
hardly have selected d better one Tor
the robbery. When the train arrived
here Express Messenger Johnson had
Just completed footing up his loss. The
total figures were between &45. 600 and
S50000 This loss must be borne bv the
Pacific Express Company which oper-
ates on the line Of the Missouri. Kansas
q Texas road.
An attempt to rob the santa Fe train
was made at nearly the same point in
the territory the past week, but the Of
hCeTs of the road somehow got wind OF
the plan and prevented its execution al
though thew We're unable TO capture the
robbers. 1t is thought they are the
same men who committed the robbery
last night, although nothing definite IS
known as TO their identity. The train
viii not arrive at st. Louis till late this
afternoon.
Oscar Johnson, the express messen-
ger. says: CIV hen the train stopped at
the water tank near that station. a gang
Of men Of not less than five
boarded the train. Two of them took
possession of the engine. white
another cut the mail, baggage and ex-
press cars off from the engine 4 shot
alarmed me, as I was secretne valuable
packages. BY the time the highwaymen
were ready to enler the esr had all but
about 81 COO stored away IN various parts
Of the car"
Al the point Of a pistol Johnson
opened the company'5 safe, and the
robbers secured the 81 900 found there.
They then opened his train box and
seeing a small amount Of money asked
whose it was. That's part of my
saIar, replied Johnson
The robbers lett it, telling him they
were not robbing trainmen. Johnson
told them that was all the money and
they left the car.
Johnson, accompanied by express
company officials left for St. Louis this
afternoon, the former practically under
arrest.