Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-08-20
HISTORY REPEATED.
A 500 GOO Robbery in "Robbers' CUT,
Mo.

a $50, GOO Robbery in Robbers CUT
Mo.
The following dispatch was received
from Kansas City on the 18th: The Pa
cific Express Company lost about $780,,
COO by train robbery on the Missouri
Pacific Railway early this morning. It
was the Kansas City limited express
No. 8, that fell into the hands of the
bandits. The train was crowded with
passengers. and the safe of the express
company was stuffed with money, con-
signed, much of it, to Western banks.
The train left Upton, Mo-, about 3 this
morning. Two mysterious figures were
seen by the engineer lurking around
but no particular attention was paid
to them. Just after leaving Upton
the fireman turned toward the tender
to fire up the engine, and looked
squarely into the muzzles of two revol-
vers In the hands of two masked men
who were lying on their faces on top OF
the coal. They were doubtless the two
mysterious men who were noticed at
Upton. They had evidently boarded
the forward platform of the "biind''
mail car at that place, and were crawl
ing over the tender toward the engine.
One of the bandits covered the fireman
care of the engineer. They were told
to hold up their hands. Their hands
went up. "Now, you run this train to
Otterville water tank ordered the
leader, "and stop there. If you at
tempt to stop at any other place or give
a signal of alarm you'll be dead men,"
and the robbers placed their weapons
close to the heads of their victims. The
engineer and fireman were at the ban
dts mercy, and could only obey. The
Otterville water tank stands in Rob
1t was there that the noted out
laws, the Games Boys" commit
ted one of their most daring rob-
berries, and the Younger brothers per-
petrated one of their boldest crimes
Robbers CUT is at the bottom of q
steep grade, and when the train ap-
preached it the engineer had great diff
ficulty in attempting to bring the engine
to standstill. His attempts were re-
doubled when the leader Of the two rob-
bers pressed the muzzle of his revolver
against the engineers temple, and just
as the historic spot was reached the.
train stopped.
'fYou come with me-" The leader
addressed Frank Droyer, the engineer,
"and you tend to the fireman." he said
to his companion. The engineer was
commanded to 60 to the express car
and tell the messenger to open the
door. He did so under the threat Of
death if he should fail. When be
reached the express car he found the.
two robbers had five confederates sta
toned at convenient places about the
car, all heavily armed and their faces.
concealed behind masks. He walked
to the door of the express car, and
s'covered,.' by the revolvers Of
three of the robbers, called to
the express messenger, Sam. Avery,
to open the door Avery, suspecting
no danger, pushed back the door. AS
he did so the leader of the robbers and
one confederate pushed their revolvers,
in and ordered the messenger to hold
up his hands. The order was promptly
obeyed and three of the robbers
jumped into the car. They proceeded
Immediately to the safe which was,
locked. Avery was commanded to open
One of the robbers unfolded gunny
sack, and into it were placed the
entire contents of the safe. The
robbers then made examination Of the
car to see if they had overlooked any
thing, and finding nothing more of val
lie backed out Of the car, three revoI-
vers always pointed at the messenger. In
the meantime, the conductor, alarmed
at the unusual stopping of the train,
went forward to see what was the
trouble. He got only as far as the rear
end of the express car, when he was.
halted by one of the robbers, who told
him to go back and collect tickets
sWe'H take care of this end Of
the train" the robber added. The con-
ductor hurried back to the first passen-
ger coach and excitedly informed the
passengers Of what was going on and adj
vised them to hide their valuables.
Money, watches, jewelry, and every
thing valuable was showed into boot
tops, into the cracks of the cushioned
seats, and anywhere to get it out of
sight. The conductor had just warned
the passengers in the second car when
the train started on its journey again.
When the engine had pulled the train.
into Otterville, half mile distant, the
news was telegraphed to headquarters
at st. Louis and all the available detect
i've force was sent to Robbers Cut.
The tracks of the robbers could be fol-
lowed some distance in the mud, and
the whole country is being secured for
them. It is said that the money in the
safe aggregated about $751; 00, mostly in
paper money, and that the other val
liable property amounted to about S15,-
0OO Avery is an old and trusted mes
senger, and took his regular run back to-
st. Louis on this evenings train. There
is no suspicion as to who the robbers