River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-02-25
a MODERN JESSE JAMES.

Engine-steam Giving Out He Deserts
His Machine and Ii Finally Caught in Il
swamp
ROCHESTER, n. Y, Feb. 90. The
shooting of an express messenger on
Central Hudson train; the riding of q
valuable safe; the flight of the
robber on the engine of another
train, from which he drives the
crew at the point of revolver; run
ming fight from the engine for miles
followed by another engine filled with
railway men, and the final capture OF
the desperate by a sheriff's posse in Z
swamp after wild pursuit across the
country are some of the sensational
features of the most desperate attempt
at train robbery in the history of the
Central Hudson railway and which cast
in the shade as an exhibition of cool
ness and nerve the famous exploits OF
the Jesse James band or other outlaw:
of western fame.
Train No. 81 on the Central Hudson
is known as the American Express
Company's special 1t runs every day
in the year between New York and
Buffalo and carries only goods ane
property shipped by that company
The train leaves New York at 8 clock
each evening, and is due in this city al
1905 in the morning Nearly al
the cars are run through to Chi
cago and contain the most valuable ex
press matter. One car is known az
the money" car, and in it is sent tn,
specie from the United States treasury
for western banks as well as the
money in process of exchange between
the banks of New York and the west
The load of wealth sent out from New
York on this train is usually greater OF
Saturday evening than on any other day
and amounts to more than $1,000, 600
in addition to jewelry and valuables.
Daniel T. McInerny, of this city, was
in charge of the money car on the triI
Saturday night. The train was made
up of eight express ears and one day
coach for the accommodation of the
regular train crew. Only one mes
senger was assigned to the money cal
as the work of billing was light.
When the train was near WeedsporT
the conductor, who was in the coacf
with his two trainmen, thought h,
heard the air-whistle sound very
family. 1t was enough TO arouse
him TO the belief that some
thing was wrong on the express
car. Going out on the platform
of the coach he climbed upon the rear
of the express car and, looking through
the hole which the bell cord come:
through, saw the upper part of mar
whose face below the eyes was con
cealed by red flannel mask. The mes
senger he could not see He went back
set the air-brakes and called his two
trainmen. The three stood leaning ou'
from the platform looking forward
along the sides of the express car Sud
denly a mans form appeared at the
side door of the express car.
Revolver bullets whistled past then
ears and voice was heard command
ing them to signal the engineer to e
ahead or take the consequences The
trainmen were unarmed The con
jump off, run back to Jordan
and telegraph along the line to Roeh
ester that they had train-robber OF
board. This was done and the conduc
tor signaled the engineer to go aheaC
at full speed, thinking that the robbel
would not dare jump and would b.
captured at the next stop.
The train went to Fort Byron. Here
the brakes were set again and the con
ductor and trainmen went to the ex
press car The car showed signs of a DIES
perate struggle. Money packages anC
jewelry were lying scattered about
Everything in the car was stained will
blood and Messenger McInerny wa.
lying bleeding from several wounds anC
almost unconscious. The robber wa:
nowhere to be seen and was supposed
to have jumped and made good his es
cape. McInerny wanted to be brought
on to Rochester. A telegram for al
ambulance was sent on to Rochestel
and the train went on to Lyons. the
next stop.
The news had spread all along tn,
line by this time and the station a
Lyons was all alive. Among others il
the crowd was well dressed
young man wearing gold eye
glasses. Now it happened tina
the trainmen had noticed the
young man at the station at SYRIA
cuse before the train started out anC
they had not seen him since, and the
question what he was doing at Lyon,
at once suggested itself. An attemp
to arrest him was made, but he pulled
two revolvers, held the crowd bacl
and backed across the yard un
til he reached a coal train, the en-
CINE of which had steam up ready
to pull out for the west. He pulled tbs
pin holding the tender to the first car
climbed over the coal into the cab
drove the engineer and firemen ou
with his revolvers, pulled open the
throttle and started the engine.
Conductor Lass aud one of tn,
switchmen procured a shotgun, freed
the engine of the express and with tn,
fireman and engineer started in pur
suit of the fugitive. 1t will be remem
bered that the Central Hudson is
four tracked road and the en-
gines, though they were going west
were not on the same track. Th'
express engine soon overlook the rob
Der. who suddenly reversed his engine
and let his pursuers pass him, pouring
a perfect rain of pistol bullets into th'
cab as his pursuers went by. Then tn,
pursuers stopped and the pursued wen
ahead. Another artillery deal ensued
the shotgun taking part this time. NJ
one was hurt in either battle.
About miles farther on the rob
Der found his steam going out of the
engine. He dropped off at, eros
road and started across the country
going south. He managed to terroriz,
farmer into letting him have a hors'
and he rode on about 2 miles
farther south. Here he procured ;
fresh horse, compelling the owner, ;
farmer, to intrust him with it by firing
on him. The party in the express en-
CINE had returned to Lyons, where th'
sheriff of Wayne county had organized
a posse. which under command o
Deputy Sheriff Collins started in pur
suit Meanwhile the farmers along
the robbers line of retreat had als'
turned out, fully armed, in pursuit.
The runaway was sighted about
miles south of Newark. The roads arr
very bad and he had made very poo
speed. lie abandoned his horse anC
ran across lots to Benton's swamp
But the swamp proved too full o
water to be penetrated and tn
fugitive took up his position behind ;
stone wall and faced his pursuers
After some parley he surrendered Z
Deputy Sheriff Collins. lie was takel
haaly q, 7 ,ops opd loIoo1 in iail H.