The morning news., 1891-12-02
AN EXPRESS CAR LOOTED
A TRAIN HELD UP ON THE OUT
SKIRTS OF ST. LOUIS.

60AHRAo Ut > 4. hOOAOs
The Robbers Supposed to Have Oh
tanned $4,000 and Considerable a
Valuable Mail Matter-The Engineer
Compelled to Do as Ordered-The
Door OF the Express Car Blown Open
With Dynamite.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Dec. lone Of the most
daring train robberies that has occurred for
years was perpetrated on the st. Louis and
San Francisco road almost within the limits
of st. Louis, last night. When passenger
train No. 3, on that road, left the depot last
night at S:25 o'clock it was Just twenty-Ave
minutes late. The limits Of the city had
been passed and the engineer
was preparing TO make up
for lost time, when three men, who had
boarded the train at Old Orchard, climbed
over the water tank and coal aud covered
the fireman and engineer with revolvers
The engineer was ordered to stop the train
near Glendale, and, as an additional in
ducement to him TO obey orders, three men e,
who were in ambush at that point, opened
fire on the train with rifles.
DYNAMITE USED.
When the train had been brought to
standstill the engineer and fireman were
ordered down from the cab, and after de-
failing two Of the band to keep guard over
them tho other four men started back to
the express car in which was the safe Of the
Adams Express Company, containing
about $4,000. Messenger Mulrenen, in
charge of the car, had observed the slacken-
ing up Of the train and had opened
the door of the car to see what the matter
was. Suspecting something wrong, and be-
coming suspicious Of the men he saw ad-
vancing toward him he hurriedly closed
and secured the door just as the men
reached it. The robbers first tried TO in
duce him to open it. and failing tried to
Dry 1t open, but the stout door foiled all
their efforts. and after spending about ten
minutes In this work they put a charge of
dynamite under the door and blew 1t open.
CLUBBED WITH REvoLvERs.
AS soon as the door was broken, the four
men leaped into it. Mulrenen made brave
resistance, but the robbers turned on him.
and after beating him into a condition of
passavity with the butts of their revolvers,
they began operations on the SAFE This
did not long resist their attacks, aud after
ritiing it OF It's contents, the guard was
called Off and the sextette of desperadoes
took to the woods. The men were all
masked and had evidently planned their
work well, as each one seemed to know ex-
actly what to do and but few words were
spoken during the entire operation.
Immediately on receipt of the news q
special train, we'll manned with officers was
sent to the scene. During the time the train
stopped at Glendale some OF the trainmen
and passengers attempted to 20 to the assist
ance OF the engineer and messenger, but
the guard placed over the former covered
! each side of the train with their rifles and
warned them bacS on pain Of death. Be-
sides ritllng the safe Of the express company,
the robbers opened several bags of regis
tered mail matter on the car, and selecting
what appeared to be Of most value carried
it Off. About five years ago a train was
held up and robbed at about the same place.
SIX MEN INVOLVED.
ST. LOUIS, Dec /, II p M.-Six men were
concerned in the robbery. Estimates as to
the amount secured vary widely, ranging
from $4,000 to $50, 900, but nothing definite
Is yet known on this point. Supt. Damsel
o. the express company saysit will be several
days before the exact amount can be ascer-
tanned. 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 fusilade being kept up
| all the while. A more reckless set Of robbers
probably never undertook q similar work.
| Fourteen shots were fired into the smoking
car, but fortunately none Of its inmates
| was hurt.
HAD WAGON NEAR BY.
On the south side of the track, about 15O
| yards from where the robbery occurred, 10
a wagon road running through a strip Of
woods. Along this road the detectives who
| went to the scene last night found fresh
! tracks of a horse and wagon coming to-
ward st. Louis. The railroad officials be-
lieve that one of the robbers is q railroad
man, as he is said to have in
structed the fireman not to put
any more coal in the furnace. The
only description Of the robbers obtained 10
of the two that climbed on the engine. One
of them was a young man, tall, with light
complexion and a heavy mustache. The
other had dark complexion, dark clothes,
about 5 feet 6; had a sinister looking
eye, and was very quick in motion. Both
wore light overcoats.
THE POSTAL CAR NOT ATTACKED.
The first report that the postal car had also
been denuded is erroneous, as authentic re-
ports say that only the express car was at
tackled.
Express Messenger Mulrenen is said TO
have been seriously injured Ia the hip by
the explosion aud battered about the head
by the butt ends Of the revolvers in the
hands OF the robbers
A large posse is making a search for th @
bandits, and city officers are straining every
nerve to uncover the hiding place of the
outlaws.