The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-04
TRAIN ROBBERS,
THE CANNON BALL EXPRESS
HELD UP.
IS IT THE WORK OF LUBE BURROWS!
Story Of the Attack-Done In fhe Jesse
James StyIe-sfopped OH u Bridge
Not Over $500 Captured by the Rob-
bers.

MOBILE, Ala, Sept. 3.-The Louis
vile and Nashville cannon-hall train,
which left here ats O'Clock Monday
night, was held up at the Big.Egcamba
bridge, half mile north of Pensacola
Junction, by robbers, who entered
the express car and compelled the
messenger to give up the contents of
the safe. 1t is not known what the
extent Of the loss is. Having secured
the valuables the robbers jumped off
and took to the woods. The first
news of the robbery received in Mo-
bile by the railway officials was but
meagre. The train was held up about
half a mile above FIamaton junction,
and the people there know very little
Of what occurred, for the train was
delayed seven minutes only,and there
was not much chance to learn what
occurred.
Engineer Bob Sizer says that he
was pulling out Of F'lamatop, and
just as the train, which is a through
express from New Orleans, got under
way, he turned around and saw q
man standing near him. Before he
could ask a question or look twice
TWO big revolvers were in his face.
He was told to run his train up to the
Escambia river bridge, some miles
distant, and stop on the bridge.
There was nothing left for him TO do
but to obey, and he did so. The train
stopped OH tkcr.rr&Ae=e- Tho engineer
was told to get of his engine, and he
did so. Then the robbers directed
Sizer to go to the express car and
force an entrance, the robber putting
a heavy mallet in his hand. Sizer did
as directed and burst open the car
door. Express Messenger Archie
Johnson was standing in his car pistol
in hand, but seeing Sizer he lowered
his weapon. The next minute he was
covered and told to lay down his gun,
and he obeyed Then the robber,
standing in the car door. compelled
the MESSENGER to open the safe and
hand him the money.
While the operation was going on
the fellow was standing in The do
cody looking at his victim, and firiag
first to one side of the train and then
70 the other to oyerawe the passengers
and the train crew When he got
IDe- money lie tOiu SlZtr 10 Hollow HliI.
The man showed the way 10 the IN
zine, bade Slzer pull, ard with a part
ing shot and wild yell dashed off
into the bushes and was lost 70 sight.
A posse has left Flamaton and
another has left Mobile in pursuit of
the robbers. Some surprise is eX-
pressed here that the robbers selected
This particular train, as it is well
known that other trains carry most
of the express money, No. g., the
robbed train, carrying very little at
any time and but small amoupt-on
this occasion.
1t is said Rube Burrows was re-
Gently seen in Florida, and there is. a
possibility that he ordered the as
sembling of his gang at Flamaton,
and joined them there to superinrend
the proper conduct of the affair, but
this robbery looks like work of the
celebrated Captain Bunch.
A careful examination by the ex=
press officials here shows that only
portion of the packages in the express
car, which was robbed on the Louis
vile and Nashville this morning was
taken, and that the loss is not over
5000,