The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-11-13
| ROBBERS BAFFLED.
They Capture Safes Containing
Hundreds Of Thousands,
BUT CANNOT GET THE TREASURE

The Thfeves, Unable to Force Mes.
senger Murphy to Open the Can
Door, Blow 1t In by Dynamite.
The Treasure Boxes Found Up.
opened-Onlya a Small Sum Secured.
CHICAGO, Nov. 13.-A report of the
train robbery near Western Union juno.
ton has been received by General Man.
ager Earling, of the Chicago, Milwau.
kee, and st. Paul railroad, which states
that the safes have been recovered and
that the robbers did not get any booty.
Express Messenger ]. G. Murphy re.
ported at the managers headquarters
and gave his experience. The train was
running at full speed, when suddenly
the messenger heard a shot fired. He at
once locked and bolted the doors of the
express car. He had hardly done this
before the train began to slacken speed,
and soon it came to full stop. Some
one came to the door of the ex1 ress car
and tried to open it.
Finding it locked he called out to the
messenger to open the door. Murphy
refused, rs did his helper, Charles II.
Cook. Then the firing began again out
side and another demand to open the
car was made. Murphy again refused.
Opened by Dynamite.
There was an interval of silence, then
quick retreat from the car, followed
by deafcning explosion, which partly
demolished one of the cur doors. A IN an
appeared Mt the breach and demanded
admission, but Murphy stood firm. In
an instant another explosion occurred,
and the other door of the car was blown
i'll. This explosion was of sufficient
force to extinguish the lights in the car
and to throw down the lighter freight.
They ordered the messenger to giveup
the keys to the safe, and at the muZzle
of a Winchester rifle he did so. In a
like manner the engineer was forced to
open the local safe, containing money
and valuables consigned from Chicago
and points between Chicago and La
crosse.
The robbers then demanded the keys
to the two through safes. Murphy told
them that he did not have the keys to
them, and they threatened him with in-'
slant death if he delayed. He pointed
out the fact that they were combination
safes and satisfied the robbers that he
could not open them if he would. These
safes contained from $2OO, 900 to $300, 900.
Seized the Treasure Boxes.
The robbers then compelled the train
men to assist in throwing these treasure
boxes from the car, and the fireman,
messenger and his helper We're ordered
to leave the car. Followed by the three
robbers with rifles leyeled upan them,
the four tTainmen were compelled to
walk about quarter of mile up the
track. This was repeated twice, and
then they were conducted to the train.
Meantime the locomotive headlight had
been extinguished
The robbers then sent the engineer
and fireman into the cab and ordered the
train to pull out, As the train got under
way six men were seen standing over the
two safes. The way safe contained be-
tween - GOO and 5000 and the way
bills, which were taken and probably
destroyed
Wheu the train arrived at Franiville
telegram was sent to Western Union
junction, and posse was Gent to the
scene. A message to Milwaukee ut the
same time was responded to by the chief
OF police, who sent a posse by special
train. and within three hours after the
robbery skillful officers We're on the
trail oil the robbers.
The treasure boxes were found where
they fell, unopened, though there were
indications that efforts had been made to
burst the doors. These We're placed
under guard and sent TO Milwaukee by
an express train.
Detectives on the Trail.-
RACINE, Wis, Nov. 13.-This city is
full Of detectives shadowing all OF the
hotels and resorts where men of the
train robbing stripe would be apt to put
up. Martin White, the assistant chief
OF the Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul, two Pinkerton men and one or
two others, have been here in consu!ta.
tion with the chief of police. They are
very retioent in regard to the case. 5ut
ii IS thought they have a clew, and that
it has been asccrtained where the train
robbers got their dynamite. There is
also some talk of clew that the thieves
Were harbored at some place i'll the town
Of Mount Pleas ant, or near there. Two
of the detectives have gone to Burling-
ton, and sensational developments are
promise before night. 1t is authorita-