The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-07
TWO BOLD TRAIN ROBBERS.
DARING WORK OF MISSOURI BANDITS
The Wabash Western Express Held Up
Near kansss City and the Passengers
Relieved of SI75 In Cash and
Two Gold Watches.

press rs it pulled out OF Harlem at $50 o'clock
last evening. The command was spoken by
one Of the two men whose faces were concealed
behind handkerchiefs who had entered the
rear Of the coach. The passengers turned TO as
certain the source of the command and looked
into the threatening muzzes of two reyolvers-
Hands went up. The eauuonary words that
followed were not necessary.
The frst one that offers resistance will be
shot down by our man on the platform"
There was no man on the platform. but the
passengers submitted as quietly as if there had
been a legion. There were seven people IN the
coach-6ve passengers, the sleeping ear con-
ductor and the porter. OF the passengers one
was a lady. At the first command her face
blanched with fear. her hands went up for
moment, then fell lifelesSy TO her lap. She had
tainted.
Il guess they won't bother US" remarked
one Of the robbers, and satisfied that no re-
sistanee would be offered. they commenced
their work Of plunder. One man went
through" the passengers one by one. while the
other, with bis revolver in his extended arm.
kept a wRtchful lookout for signs of opposi-
ton. In this way the plunderer secured all the
booty be could in haste, and when 1t all
over and the robbers had escaped, the passen-
gers found they had been relieved Of Sl75 in
cash and two gold watches
The Wabash Western train left Kansas City
at $50 last night 1t was composed Of the
baggage, express and smoking carS, one day
coach. two Mann boudoir cars and one Pullman
ca1 The latter car was the 81 Paul sleeper,
where the robbers commenced their work.
When the train reached the Missouri river
bridge two men were seen 10 get of the ioT.
ward end OF the bat "a and disappear be-
hind 2 lumber pile. The train hands thought
they were tramps who had stolen ride from
Kansas City and paid 20 attention to the incl
dent. They are convinced now that they
the robbers and that they caught the rear end OF
the last sleeper as il passed the lumber pile.
just az the train pulled out OF Harlem the rob
bers entered the car and went through" the
passengers, Gs deScrihed. 1t was evidently the
intention 10 ron the passengers In all the
coaches, working" the train from the rear
Tor as they left The ST. Paul sleeper they again
cautioned the occupants 10 not give the alarm,
under penalty OF being shot by the man on
the platform"
Leaving the ST. Paul coach they started for
the next one ahead. On the platform they
pet the conductor OF the train, John Roach.
One Of the robbers pushed his revolver under
the conductors nose, and with an oath ordered
him 10 hold up his hands. The conductor sup
posed from the nature OF their disguises that
number Of railroad men. who had taken pas
on him, and with a laugh, he attempted 10
push past ihsm and enter the sleeper. just
then gust of wind swept aside the
masks OF Tne robbers and then be knew that
the affair was one OF dead earnest. He
had no weapon but he carried his lantern in
his hand and with that he dealt one of the men
q vicious blow on the head smashing the Ian
tern glass and extncuishing the light.
simultaneously with his assault the other
robber fired q shot at him from his revolver
The aim was bad and the bullet missed its
mark The first rObber had by this time re-
covered himself and he too took shot at the
conductor HIS aim was no more precise than
his partners. The robbers then with one more
parting shot swung of from the steps OF the
car. AS they did so, the conductor hurled his
lantern after them. determined 20 have last
tag" on then.
The train was running at the rate of twenty
I'VE miles an hour-too last for any one, except
under desperate chances. 10 jump of without
endangerng his life and Conductor Roach did
not attempt it. lie swung ont beyond the side
of the car, however and saw the robbers arise
and make with all haste for the dirt road that
leads 70 Kansas City. That was the last seen
of them IN the meantime the passengers in
the 81. Paul coach had been SO completely ter
Torzed that they did not regain their senses
until they heard the firing on the platform.
Then one Of them pulled the cord that connects
the sir-brake and the train came 70 q stand
stil By this time the train had run a mile be-
yond the place where the robbers bad escaped.
". II. BOnnell, special agent OF the road. was
a passenger in the smoking car. When the
train came 10 sudden stop he rushed out 70
ascertain the cause. Learning from the con-
ductor the occurrence OF The robbery he imme-
dia.ely set TO work to begin the chase for the
robbers. He ordered the engineer TO run the
train 20 Randolph. Jew miles ahead. and there
he uncoupled the engine and ran il back to
Harlem. There he found Deputy Sheriff Tom
hnson. Guards we're stationed at the ap-
proachss Of the bridge 10 prevent the robbers
entrance into Kansas City and two posses were
organized % seouT the country for the fugitiveS
Special Agent ROnnel then walked back 20
Kansas City, arriving here at 1880 o'clock this
morning. aud reported the case 10 the police
who are keeping lookout in the city for the
road agents. The police OF the neighbOring
towns have also been asked to arrest any one
answering u the description Of the robbers.
The robbers are described as rather youthful
not over twenty or twenty-three years OF age;
Of slight build and dressed something like far
mers' boys No one saw their faces except the
conductor and by the dim light OF his lantern
he received no definite impression of their
features Kansas City people are beginning to
wonder II the days Of Jesse James have not
come again. Two robberies which would have
done him credit in his palmiest days have oc-
Cured recently. One was the train robbery OF
last night. The other was the theft of handful
OF diamonds from a jewelry store in broad day
lGhf, the keeping At bay at ne point of a re-
vOiver OF the pursuing crowd and the escape Of
the thlef. neither the two crimes have pny
connection In their principals or not is ques-
ton. They roth were extraordinarily bold and
very successful. The poor aim Of the train rob-
bers is the only thing Of which Jesse might
have been ashamed.
Shen1 TOmlinsoDs posse returned this morn
ing after an almost fruitlesS search for the rob
bers. They succeeded in tracing the men to a
farm house OF the dirt road. where IL is known
they stole horse from farmer named Evans.
1t is supposed they forced the horse to carry
double, Is the tracks OF the animal were traced
20 bend iD the river, where footprints in the
sand showed that two men probably dis.
mounted. At this point all trace of the ban
dts lost il Is very likely they crossed
the river and boarded a train for LeayenwOrth
90 the Kansas City 4 Northwestern road aud
escaped by that means 10 LeavenwOrth and
then 10 some point In Nebraska.
Until tonight the names OF none OF the pas
sengsrs in the ~. Paul ear were known, no
record having been kept Of them At the Pull
man Office. Two Of the passengers we're Mr.
and Mrs. Charles p. DeBham Of this city. Mr..
Denham teIegraphed 70 q business associate
here that he and his wife were among the
losers By The outlaws raid end asking for
money. The train was the regular 81. Louis
express and the 81. Paul car was carried only
as ar IS MobeTly where IL was switched onto
the ST. Paul train.
Conductor Roaeh's Story.
81. LorIs. Aug. Ain an interview tonight
Conductor Roach. the hero Of the Wabash