The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-02-22
sneelal 10 the RrcoRp-ux1ox.

Robbery.
Special TO the RECORD NIoy.
ROCHESTER, N. ", Feb. 21.-The
shooting of an express messenger on a
New York Central train, the rifing of
the safe, the flight of the robber on the
engine of another train, from which he
drove the crew at the point Of a revolver,
q running fight from the engine for miles.
followed by another engine filled with
railway men, and the final capture of the
desperate by Sherif's posse in a swamp
after wild pursuit across the country,
are some Of the sensational features of
he most desperate attempt at train rob-
Dery in the history Of the Central Rail
way, and which cast in the shade, as an
exhibition of GOODNESS and nerve, the
famous exploits of jesse James band or
other outlaws of Western fame.
The American Express Company's
special between New York and Buffalo
carries only goods shipped by that COM
)any. Nearly all the cars run through
10 Chicago, and contain most valuable
express matter. one car is known as the
money car" and contains specie from
the United States Treasury for Western
between the banks of New York and the
Vest.
The load of wealth sent out from New
York on this train is usually greater on
Saturday evening than on other days.
and often amounts to more than a million
dollars, in addition to jewelry and other
Faiuabies. The most trusted messenge
s=sG placed in charge OF this car only
one messenger, Daniel l.. NIcInery, was
assigned TO the money car Oh Saturday
night, as the work Of billing was light.
The other cars had two messengers.
The train lett Syracuse at 5 this morn
ing, in charge OF Conductor Emil Laass,
with Caleb Cherry as engineer. X coach
was IN the rear of the train, and the
money car just ahead. When the train
was near WeedspOrt, the Conductor
thought he heard the air whistle sound
rery family. 1t aroused him TO the belief
that something was wrong on the express
car. Going out on the platform, he
climbed onto the car and looking through
The hole which the bell-cord comes
through, he saw the upper part of a man
those face below was concealed by q red
.1annol mask. The messenger ne could
not see. He.went back. set the air brake
s-ud called his TWO trainmen. Suddenly
= mans form appeared at the side door
OF the express car. Revolver bullets
whistled past their ears, and voice was
heard commanding them to signal the
quence. The tralnmen were unarmed.
The conductor told one Of his men to
jump off and run back to Jordan and tel
cgraph along the line to Rochester that
they had a traln-robber on board. This
was done, and the conductor Sgnaled the
engineer to go ahead at full speed, think
ing the rObber would not dare to Jump
and that he would be captured at the next
stop.
The train went to Fort Byron. Here the
brakes were set again and the conductor
and tTainmen went to the express car.
Che car showed signs Of desperate
struggle. Money packages and iewelry
were lying scattered about, everythingin
the ear stained with blood and Messenger
-Hclnery lying bleeding from several
wounds and almost unconscious. No
Iobber was to be seen, and it was sup
ltosed he had jumped and made his es-
cape.
The train went on to Lyons. The news
was spread all along the line by this time,
and the station at Lyons was all alive.
Among others in the crowd was we'll
dressed young man, wearing gold eye
glasses and carrying satchel slung over
his shoulders.
1t happened that the trainmen noticed
the young man at Syracuse before the
train started, and they had not seen him
since, ana the question of what he was
Going at Lyons at once suggested itself.
An attempt to arrest him was made but
he pulled two revolVerS, held the crowd
back, and backed across the yard until
lie reached coal-train engine, which had
steam up ready to pull out for the west.
de pulled the pin holding the tender to
the Iirst car, climbed over the coal into
the cab, drove the engineer and fireman
cut with the revolvers, pulled open the
throttle and started the engine.
Conductor Lass and one of the switch
men procured a shotgun, freed the engine
Of the express, and with a fireman and
engineer started III pursuit ofthe fugitive.
The Central Hudson is four-tracked
road, and the engines, though going west.
We're not on the same track. The express
engine soon overlook the robber who
suddenly reversed his engine and let his
lursuers pass him, pouring perfect
shower of bullets into the cab as the pur-
suers went by. Then the pUrsuers stopped
and the pursued went ahead
Another artillery deal enSued the shot
gun taking part this time. No one was
Lurt in either battle. About seven miles
13rther on the robber found the steam 90
ing out OF the engine. He dropped of at
crossToad and started across the coun-
try, going south. He managed to terror
lie a farmer into letting him have q horse,
and rode on about two miles. Here he
secured another horse.
The party IN the express engine had re-
turned 10 Lyons, where the Sheriff of
wayne county organized posse, which,
under command Of a deputy, started in
pursuit. Meantime, the farmers along
the robbers line of retreat turned out.
fully armed, in pursuit.
The runaway was sighted about five
miles south of Newark. The roads were
Very bad, and he made very poor speed.
lie abandoned his horse and ran across
lots to Benton's Swamp. But the swamp
proved too full OF water to be penetrated,
and the fugitive took up position be-
Lind stone wall and faced his pursuers.
After some parley he surrendered to
Deputy Sheriff Collins. He was taken
back TO Lyons and lodged in JAIL
He gave the name OF William Cross.
said he was from New York, and had
been boarding in Syracuse some time.
lie admitted that he was the man who
attempted the train robbery TO Chief OF
detectives Hayden of this city, who had
leen wired Tor. He is believed to be the
1auch-wanted Oliver Curtis Perry, who
robbed express messenger Moore, near
Utica, last fail.
The story OF what occurred in the ex-
1,ress ear. as far as it can be gathered. is
IS follows: Cross boarded the train when
i pulled out Of Syracuse, climbing on top
cf'fhe express car. He was provided
with a hooked rope Fastening the hook
in the roof on the side of the car. he let
himself down on the other side, and, rest