The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-10
THEY USED DYNAMITE.


Robbers Stop = Train Near st. Louis,
Blow Open the Express Car Door and
Make Their Escape After Securing .
sum EstImated ut from $4,000 to $50
600.
ST. Louis. Dec 3.-Managcr Damsel.
Of the Adams Express Company, was
seen Tuesday and said that while he
knew nothing definite as to the amount
of money and yaluables secured by the
robbers of their express car on the st.
Louis 4 san Francisco train at Glen
dale Monday night he was sure that
the amount exceeds $4,000. At the
Frisco Office it was stated that the
amount was about $4,000.
stopped the Train.
When the train reached Old Orchard
it Is supposed that four men boarded
the express car. two of them climbing
the front platform and two the rear.
The other two, it is believed, boarded
the train at Glendale. Shortly after the
train left Glendale two men silently
made their way over the heaps Of coal
in the tender towards the engine cab.
As soon as they secured good footing
which does duty as a door during the
cold season, and placing revolvers at
the heads of the engineer and fireman
commanded them to stop
The engineer brought the train to .
standstill Mt a point about 500 feet
east of the station at Glendale and
Immediately two other men, who
evidentlywere in waiting at that point,
drew revolvers and began fnsillade Of
shots, firing into the air with the pur-
pose Of intimidating the trainmen and
passengers and compelling them to re-
main inside the cars
The Express Messenger Hurt.
In the meantime the express messen.
ger, who had suspected that something
was wrong, had closed and bolted the
car doors and stood inside ready to de-
fend the property intrusted to his care.
But the odds were against him and the
poor fellow now lies in dangerous
condition at North Springfield.
Dynamite Used.
When the two robbers had piloted
the engineer and fireman to the
car they placed them under guard, and
commenced. first by persuasive means,
to induce Messenger Mulrenen to open
the door of the car But the lat
ter was obdurate. lie would lose his
life, he said. before he would open the
door and leave the car to the mercy OF
the would-be looters. The chief Of
the band, seeing that coaxing did
no good. commanded his lieuten-
ants to demolish the car door. which
stood between them and the coveted
prize. The new mode of attack with
| dynamite was employed A stick Of
the deadly explosive was placed against
the car and the fuse lighted. The ex-
| plosion shattered the door, and injured
the messenger.
A big Sum Taken.
As the door fell in the robbers en-
tered the car and taking the key from
the messenger. soon had the safe
open. Everything in the safe was
taken and also the messengers
| gold watch and chain. Estimates
as to the amounts secured vary
widely. ranging from $50, 900 to $50, 600,
but nothing definite is yet known on
this point. Superintendent Damsal, OF
the express company, says it will be
several days before the exact amount
| can be ascertained.
| Passengers Kept ut Bay.
While two of the robbers were doing
the work at the express car the other
four bandits kept the remainder of the
train crew and passengers in state Of
terror, constant fusillade being kept
up all the while. A more reckless set
of robbers probably never undertook
similar work. Fourteen shots were
fired into the smoking car. but forum
ately none of its inmates were hurt.
The Escape.
After the robbers had secured all tho
money envelopes and packages in the
safe they jumped from the car. and
calling to their confederates on board
the locomotive told them to make the
engineer start the train. The engineer
slowly started the train and the rob-
bers jumped from the car to the ground.