The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-08-26
A FRIGHTENED PORTER.

train to see what was wrong. He
carried his lantern with him, but had
gone only short distance when the
two robbers at the express car ordered
him to return to the smoker. He
needed no second invitation, and so
badly frightened was he that he
dropped his lantern and did not stop
to regain it, but left it to be picked
up by Officer Shackles, one of the
posse who arrived on the scene a
few hours later. The porter
says the smaller of the two robbers
had his arms filled with packages,
but it is quite as likely that mole
hill would have appeared as a noun
tain to him at that time, with 3S-cali-
bre revolvers to be seen on every
hand.
BACK TO THE ENGINE.
The task of robbing the messenger
completed, Engineer Drayer was es-
corted back to the engine and in
structed to pull out for Sedalia, with
threat Of vengeance to be wreaked
upon him if he stopped the train be-
fore this city was reached. Like the
porter. Mr.. Drayer required no
second invitation; but he must have
been little nervous. for in attempt
ing to board the engine he missed his
footing and fell. He was assisted to
his feet by one of the robbers, and an
instant later was in the cab, when
he lost no time in pulling open the
throttle and resuming hi, trip west
ward.
NOTIFIED THE OFFICERS.
Instead of coming direct to Sedalia,
however, Conductor Marsh caused
the train to. be stopped at Otterville,
from where he wired informa-
ton of the robbery to
the company officials. TIVE n
five minutes later the train pulled up
in front of the depot here and was met
by a corps of reporters from the BAzoo
"a paper published for the people
DOW on earth-who lost no time in
interviewing the train crew.
Messenger Avery most positively
declined to make a statement, and
Conductor Marsh was not at all COM
municative. The engineer and fire.
men were not so reticent, though, and
gave the following description of the
two men who boarded the engine,
which description was sent by Super
intendent Clark to all agents and sec
ton men along the line:
TWO ROBBERS DESCRIBED.
The leader is about 25 years old. 5
feet 10 inches high, weighs about 100
pounds; light complexion and has a
light moustache; wore a soft black hat,
with a high crown and broad brim
had on black sack coat, dark pants
and red necktie.
The second robber was some smaller;
about 20 years old and 5 feet 8 inches
high weighs in the neighrorhood of
40 pounds; wore black soft hat, dark
plaid coat and dark pants.
One of the robbers carried British
bulldog revolver, while the other
was armed with Smith & Wesson.
A POSSE IN PURSUIT.
Hardly had the train left here, on
its way to Kansas City, before Detec-
tive belong was instructed to organ
ize posse and proceed to Otterville
without delay. He secured the as
sistance of Sheriff Smith. Consta BILE
Ramsey, Deputy Constable Smith,
Officer Frank Shackles. Bert Striker,
Dill Blair and a representative of the
BAzoo, and at $40 o'clock the party
left here on a special train of an
engine and caboose, VIM. Tedford Of
iciating as conductor, r. j. Beesmore
rs engineer and w. o. Webster as
fireman.
AT THE SCENE.
The run was made to Otterville and |
thence to the tank without incident,
but arriving there the posse disem-
parked and began looking over the |
ield. 1t had rained a good portion
IF the previous night, making the
earth soft and tracks easily discern
BILE. In the dirt road which runs par
,llel with the railroad, two trails were !
discovered. They were followed a
distance of probably 800 yards, when
Deputy Constable Smiths attention
was directed to a piece of brown pa.
Der, neatly folded and lying under the
.ail of fence on the north side of
he road. He picked the paper up,
md an examination revealed to him
hat they were on the right trail.
A GOOD CLUE.
1t proved to be the wrapper off of
me of the packages taken from Mes
enger Avery. 1t was addressed to