The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-11-28
THE BOLDEST YET.
THE MISSOURI, KANSAS AND TEXAS
EXPRESS CAR ROBBED IN
THE CHEROKEE NATION.
Two Agents Do the Job and Get Away With
$5O,OeO in Clean Cash-Their
Identity Unknown.

OSwEGo, Kansas, November 25.--A train
robbery of extraordinary boldress was
accomplished in the Cherokee nation last
night. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas
express train, north bound for St. Louis,
was held up at Pryor creek, near Perry sta
ton, and the express car robbed of about
$4,000. The road agents were only two in
number. They had concealed themselves
in clump of bushes near the water tank
on Pryor creek, and when the train stopped
for wate, hey boarded the engine, one on
either side, anJ covering the engineer and
fireman with then revolyers, explained
their design of robbing the train. One of
the robbers climbed into the tender, and
from that point the men in the cab were at
his mercy and were compelled to obey his
commands.
The other robber went back to the ex-
press car and unce eupled it from the rest
of The train. Entering the car he intimi-
dated the express messenger by presenting
brace of revolvers at his head and order
ing l.m to disarm himself The messenger
obeyed and the robber took the messengers s
weapons and then through the window
shouted to his confederate on the tender:
"All right, let her CO."
The latter repeated the command to the
engineer who had nothing to do but obey
He opened the throttle and the engine and
express car sped away from the rest of the
train.
Meanwhile the robber IN the express car
had compelled the messenger to open the
safe by a threat of death and to transfer the
contents of the safe 20 large gunny-sack
which the robber had brought along to con-
yey the booty in. The messenger again
obeyed. The robber then made hasty ex-
animation of the car to see that nothing
valuable was overlooked, and giving. the
signal to his confederate the latter ordered
the engineer to slack up. This was done.
The robbers disembarked and made their
escape in the darkness,
All this was done so quickly that the
engineer had proceeded only mile and
half from Prayer creek and the
robbers had completed the robbery and eff
fected their escape before the surprised
trainmen knew what had occurred. No at
tempt was made to pursue the road agents,
and the engineer ran back to the creek,
picked up his train and pursued his trip.
The train was the regular express which
always carried large amount OF express
matter, and the robbers could hardly have
selected better one for the robbery. 1t
was reported at first that the mail car had
been robbed and the passengers relieved OF
their money and valuables, but when the
train reached here at 2 q. IN. that report
was found to be untrue
When the train arrived here Express Mes
senger Johnson had just completed footing
of his loss The total figures were between
$4,000 and $4,000. This loss must be borne
by the Pacific Express company, which
operates on the line of the Missouri Kan
sas and Texas railway. An attempt to rob
the Santa Fe train was made in the Terri
tory last week, but the officers of the road
got wind of the plan and prevented its exc
cution, although they were unable to cap
tare the would be. robbers. 1t is thought
they are the same men who committed the
robbery last night, although nothing is
known as to their identity.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
ST. LOUIS, November 25.-A special
from Sedalia, Mo-, gives an interview with
Oscar Johnson, express messenger, whose
car was held up and robbed at Pryor Creek,
twenty-five miles south of Vinita, |. t., last
night. The history Of the robbery is as fol-
lows:
When 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 while another
cut the mail, baggage and express cars from
the engine. A shot alarmed Johnson, who
was secreting valuable packages By the
time the time the highwaymen were ready
to enter his car he had all but 81 900 stored
away in various parts of the car. AT the
point of the pistol Johnson opened the car
safe and the robbers secured the 81 900 found
there Then they opened his train box,
and seeing a small amount of money asked
whose it was.
"That's part of my salary" responded
Johnson. The robbers left it, telling HIM.
they were not robbing trairmen. 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 un-
der arrest,