Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-12-24
THE soLDEsT YET.

The United state. Mail Wagon Held Up and
Robbed in the Crowded Streets of Chics-
go-LarRe Amount Stolen.
CHICAGO, Dec. 16.-Jesse James ex.
PLOTS were outdone last night in CHI
cago. On one of the leading thorough
fares five daring highwaymen suddenly
surrounded one of Uncle Sans biggest
mail wagons. and. at a revolver's point,
forced the postal employees to throw out
several sacks The bulky government
vehicle was then sent flying on its jour
new. the occupants being threatened
with instant death if they made out
cry or stopped.
So complete was the surprise effected
by the bandits that the mail drivers
failed to utilize the services of large
bull dog which was beside them on
their seat.
Near midnight. the stolen mail sacks,
split open and rihed of their contents,
were found on Superior street, in the
north division of the city, fully three
miles from the scene of the robbery.
AT that hour every available man of the
city detective force and the post office
inspectors staff were straining every
nerve to obtain clew to the identity
of the highwaymen or their where
abouts.
The wagon was on it's way to the
main post office with mail from the
stock yards and southwest stations. 1t
was in charge of John Creighton, an
experienced driver who, after collect
ing his valuable freight, drove down
Blue Island avenue to HalStead street
and then turned east on Water street.
He was half way to Des PLANES street
when five men sprang from the side
walk. One seized the horses by the
reins, while the others covered Creigh-
ton with revOlverS and commanded him
to keep quiet
The team was then led to the alley
extending north from Maple street and
then, while one of the men covered
Creighton with a revolver, the others
forced open the door of the wagon and
hastily selecting the registered pouches
from the others, made off through the
alley. Creighton's guard kept the cap
tive covered for five minutes and then
left him.
The thoroughly frightened driver
whipping up his horses, drove as rapidly
as possible to the main post office,
where he reported the affair. An in
ventory was then made of the contents
of the wagon, and it was found that
the two registered mail pouches from
the stock yards station, and that from
the Southern station and Blue Island
avenue station were missing. The
value of the contents the officials were
unable to determine, but it was known
to be heavy.
Creighton in the dark was unable to
distinguish the features and scarcely
the forms of his assailants, except the
one who stood guard. The latter was
about five feet ten inches tall and wore
a dark cap pulled down over his eyes.
Some time after midnight rumor
was current that one of the robbers had
been arrested, but the report was de-
MED by Inspector Setback.
AS nearly as can be estimated the
robbers secured in the neighborhood of
$4,000 in currency and about $500, 900
worth of non-negotiable paper sent by
the Drovers' and the Stock Yards Ma
hOnal banks to their correspondents.
The latter item will be of little use to
the bandits, but will cause an endless
amount of trouble and confusion in the
financial circles involved